Mr. Speaker, two days ago the Conference Board of Canada released its publication “Provincial Outlook”.
The conference board specifically cited a continuing weakness in construction activity as dampening real growth in New Brunswick. In yesterday's Globe and Mail write-up, New Brunswick was even branded as an economic “laggard”. They stated, and I quote:
In both years, the biggest laggard will be New Brunswick where a three-year string of declines in construction activity is undermining the province's ability to gather momentum.
Although I fully endorse the Government of New Brunswick's commitment to fiscal responsibility, I call on the premier to use some of their $100 million in rainy day fund on highway construction and help New Brunswick in the upcoming tough economic times.
New highways will create much needed jobs. New highways will help New Brunswick weather hard economic times, but most importantly, new highways will help save lives.