Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers (Photo: NB Chamber of Commerce)
Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers took part in a leader series hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning.
He was asked about how to attract more people to the province, and keep them here.
He says this has been a challenge, “My answer here is the economy, the economy, the economy. If we can get this place going, and I am confident that we can, and have high paying, good paying jobs, this issue will look after itself. That is my belief.”
Vickers says growing our province is critical, because we have an aging population, but he believes with the right type of promotion and programs, we can offer reimbursement on the condition, newcomers stay for three to five years..
Vickers was also asked about homelessness.
He says this is not only a humanitarian issue, it is an economic issue for local businesses as well, and it needs to be dealt with, “When you have a homeless situation in downtown Fredericton or downtown Moncton, people just don’t want to go down there. People are not going to go to your business stores, or your community stores, your coffee shops, your restaurants, if that problem continues to exist.”
Vickers has already committed to eliminating homelessness in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John within four years, if elected.
Tourism has been one of the hardest hit industries due to COVID-19.
Vickers says, if elected, he will work with the federal government to access funding that will benefit tourism operators.
He also criticized previous cuts by the Conservative government, “Why on earth, it makes absolutely no sense to me, they would have stripped that budget from the Ministry of Tourism from $21.8 million to $12. It was a 40 per cent in tourism. To me, it is like cutting your nose off despite your face.”
Vickers says tourism is a golden opportunity for our province and he will do whatever it takes to get operators what they need to succeed.
