Lieutenant-Governor Brenday Murphy (New Brunswick legislature)
New Brunswick’s efforts at slowing and preventing the spread of COVID-19 were a key focus in the Speech from the Throne.
Lieutenant-Governor Brenda Murphy opened the 60th session of the provincial legislature on Tuesday to outline the agenda of the Progressive Conservative government.
The province is projected to have a deficit this year (2020-21) of more than $183 million and a net debt of just over $14 billion.
Revenue is projected to be $40.3 million lower than budget mainly due to anticipated impacts related to COVID-19.
Murphy noted how this is largely attributed to decreased provincial taxes, agency revenues and sale of goods and services, offset by federal funding programs and the essential workers wage top-up.
“With lower revenues anticipated, your government will renew and reinvent how public services are delivered so better value is given to the residents of New Brunswick while at the same time living within our means.
“This discipline will be essential so that the government has the resources required to care for seniors and invest in health care, ensure more money for vulnerable people who need it, and for our children who deserve a strong education.”
Murphy said the province is facing complex, multi-faceted issues which will require innovative solutions.
New Brunswick continues to face persistent issues of poverty where approximately 25 per cent of our children live in poverty and close to 34 per cent of New Brunswick households have incomes so low that they cannot pay taxes.
In Canada, our province remains one of the least literate.
It is also home to the most rapidly aging population.
The full Speech from the Throne can be found HERE.
