Interim Liberal Leader Wants To See ‘Targeted Investment’

The Liberal opposition in New Brunswick is looking for specifics in the Higgs’ government’s new budget.

Interim leader Roger Melanson hopes the pandemic, “the worst crisis in a 100 years” is addressed in the budget document.

“It’s important that the Higgs government does prioritize targeted investment,” Melanson said.

During a Zoom call with reporters on Monday morning, Roger Melanson said the capacity to offer mental health services in New Brunswick must be increased.

“We know our long-term sector has a huge deficit in it’s ability to recruit and retain employees,” Melanson said.

Melanson said tourism and other key economic sectors are going through a very difficult time so they would like to targeted investment there.

He also said it will be very interesting to see if the Higgs’ government brings in a surplus budget.

“And to see the details of how he would have achieved a surplus budget. ‘Is it temporary incremental federal dollars coming in? Or is it cuts to essential services?'” Melanson said.

Melanson noted women have been affected the most during the pandemic so they would like to see help for women in different sectors.