Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers (Photo: submitted by NBLA)
New Brunswick’s Liberal leader used Labour Day to reiterate several campaign promises made over the past few weeks.
Speaking in Saint John, Kevin Vickers said his party would look at reforming the property tax system to ensure fairness and sustainability.
Vickers said a Liberal government would also ensure industrial taxes remain in the communities where they are collected.
“In the interest of tax fairness, a Liberal government will enter into an agreement with those municipalities that would reallocate funding associated with the real property tax collected by the province from heavy industry to those municipalities in recognition of this additional tax burden. This reallocation of tax revenue would not negatively impact other municipalities,” said Vickers.
“Let me be very clear, a Kevin Vickers government will move on the issue of industrial tax reform, but we will not do it on the backs of municipalities and LSDs and we will not do it on the backs of our police officers and firefighters.”
Vickers said his party would not abolish or make changes to binding arbitration for workers, which he said Progressive Conservative leader Blaine Higgs plans to do.
The Liberal leader said he would also establish a 10-year Health Care Human Resources Strategy to ensure the stability of the province’s health-care system.
“To the nurses and nursing home workers and special care home workers, I want to tell you Kevin Vickers is about keeping you safe. It is the essence of who I am, and I as your premier will keep you safe,” said Vickers.
A Liberal government would also begin negotiating a contract with nurses and implement pay equity for long-term care employees, he said.
Vickers also reiterated his plan to develop a 10-year human resource plan for the education system to allow for better planning for government, post-secondary institutions, the K-to-12 school system and early childhood educators.
“An elected Liberal government will work together with all levels of government, with our communities and with our workers,” he said.
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