Government Operations Committee on March 28th, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks.

Dr. Ellis, perhaps you could just take that down before we proceed.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Well, actually, Chair, that sign might say “axe worthy”. It could say “axe throwing”. I'm sorry to hear that the member wants to be triggered by that. I happen to have a riding where the Nova Scotia Agricultural College is an incredible proponent of axe throwing, and therefore I believe it's appropriate for me to have that there. I'm not going to comment on the things behind Mrs. Atwin. Maybe there are things I don't like there. Maybe there's something Mr. Savard-Tremblay has on that I don't like. Maybe I don't like the colour of his new jacket. I think that is absolutely ridiculous. Axe throwing is a very important part of life here in Cumberland—Colchester, and I thank the member from Fredericton for pointing that out.

Premier, that being said, it would appear that all of your Atlantic colleagues are speaking out against this, and perhaps unanimously in the legislatures as well. Despite what the Liberals want, it appears very clear, sir, that you have some incredible ideas. I want to thank you for your time here in committee today, your insightfulness, and your great representation of all New Brunswickers. My mom, who's 91, still lives in New Brunswick.

I thank you for that, sir.

[Blaine Higgs]

Thank you.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Chair, if you'd like to give me some more time, I'm quite happy to have that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Sorry, no. We were just following up on the previous point of order. Thanks.

We will now go to you, Mr. Long. Go ahead, sir.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you, Chair.

Good morning to my colleagues, and good morning to our premier.

It was great to see you, Blaine, at the New Brunswick museum announcement this week. It was a great announcement for our city and certainly for the province.

Premier, why are you here today? Why are you before OGGO, which is studying the main estimates? I'm wondering if you can share with the committee when you were first approached to appear before this committee or any committee. I'm wondering if you can also table any documents about appearing before any committee here.

When were you approached to appear before OGGO?

[Blaine Higgs]

We sent a letter some time ago—as you know, it was seven of my colleagues—about this whole process or about the situation and how we felt collectively. From that point, we learned of this committee and the opportunity to look at the cost of living in Canada and what the government is spending in terms of servicing the country. The idea of having an opportunity to share exactly what we're seeing I think is very relevant for us here in New Brunswick, but as I point out, it's relevant for colleagues from both sides of the table.

Quite frankly, Mr. Long, you should be in the same camp with your colleagues provincially, who are saying we shouldn't have this tax and this increase.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Premier, let me give you an example. I had a guy come into my office the other day. He was telling me about a 23¢ increase in fuel. I said, no, it's not 23¢. It's 23% of basically 9¢. It's 3¢. Then we went through the math. He filled up his Honda Civic. It was 37 litres. It was about $1.20 extra to fill up his car, which he would actually drive for two weeks. He'd get 500 kilometres from that car. In fact, it was 60¢ extra a week.

Look, Premier, we're all very clear on your wanting to eliminate the price on pollution. What is your solution? Can you share with the committee what you would do? Are you in favour of taxing large emitters and letting those emitters pass it on? Would that not be the same?

[Blaine Higgs]

I think we've been very clear that our industries should be best in class in terms of emissions reductions and continually investing to reduce emissions. What we know from every commodity, to put it clearly, is that in every commodity and every industry, the cost of that industry into that commodity can end up with the consumer. How do we change that? Do we make them all state-owned? Do we decide that capitalism is no longer an issue here in Canada and so we move to being more socialistic in nature?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Premier, thank you for that, but again, I'm looking for specifics. What is New Brunswick's plan?

[Blaine Higgs]

I just went through that.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Would you be able to table a plan to reach our targets by 2050? I know that you've criticized this and that, but I've yet to hear your plan, Premier.

[Blaine Higgs]

No, you weren't listening, because I went through it in great detail here in the last 20 minutes. It is very clear. It could be calculated as a major plan right here, developed in New Brunswick, that could have a major impact worldwide. It's clear.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

What's the plan? What is it?

[Blaine Higgs]

It's developing our gas resource and that LNG plant that you and I both live close to, and saying we could ship to Europe and shut down coal plants. That's the plan—simple. It would create three million dollars' worth of investment in Saint John. It would create multi-millions of investment. It would be multi-million dollars to the first nations. It's doing exactly what is happening out west.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

That's how we're going to reduce emissions in our province—

[Blaine Higgs]

Worldwide.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

—by 2050.

[Blaine Higgs]

That's worldwide. We're not thinking big enough. We can't make the impact worldwide by the current closed thinking of just saying, “What about Canada?”

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Premier, you often talk about affordability, and certainly we're on the same page. Look, I don't think there's any question that there's a challenge worldwide with respect to affordability. But you also have a lot of responsibility in the province of New Brunswick with respect to affordability. You've had three surpluses, I would argue, largely due to federal transfers. I also want to make sure, for the record, that our committee and Canadians know that almost nine out of every $10 of COVID support that came into New Brunswick were federal. New Brunswick contributed to COVID relief less than any other province across Canada.

With respect to your surpluses and affordability, can you name three things you have done, three actions you have taken, to help New Brunswickers with respect to affordability?

Thank you.

[Blaine Higgs]

Let's talk about COVID.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, Premier Higgs. We're almost out of time. Please provide a very brief answer, if you're able to.

[Blaine Higgs]

I was going to start on the COVID question. We spent every dime that the federal government gave to us, which went toward COVID, as did the other provinces, I assume, but we also added to that where it was needed.

I'd also point out that we had one of the best records on COVID in the country, working with our colleagues in Atlantic Canada, so—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you, gentlemen. I'm sorry. We are out of time.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, please go ahead.

Ignore what Dr. Ellis says. I think your jacket is perfect.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!