Progressive Conservative leader Blaine Higgs makes a campaign stop in Moncton on August 19, 2020. (Photo: Christina Mulherin)
Conservative leader Blaine Higgs was in Moncton today as part of his province-wide campaign tour.
The Higgs government is taking credit for putting NB on the map during the pandemic, for things like top nationwide in job recovery.
“RBC indicates we’re poised to beat national averages on regained GDP and we have the highest retail and recreation foot traffic in the nation. These statistics are not a coincidence, we have managed the uncertain extremely well and we have done it with the help of many, many people,” he says.
Higgs outlined three new initiatives to support New Brunswick businesses, including working with Opportunities NB on the use of technology.
“Support access to training and lead the way for our businesses to upscale, this could mean embracing robotics, artificial intelligence and just using existing technologies more efficiently,” says Higgs.
He also says the NB First Procurement Strategy has been under development to help NB businesses compete in their own province.
His government promises to modify procurement policies to support NB suppliers.
“Our team will ensure the procurement policies will support NB suppliers wherever possible under the free trade agreement. We will ensure an environment where New Brunswick companies have the best possible opportunity to compete in the province in which they live and work,” he says.
Higgs says while he’ll continue to consult with he COVID-19 task force, we can’t wait around for two year for a vaccine and that we need to keep focusing on strengthening the economy.
