The New Brunswick New Democratic Party (NDP) unveiled Tuesday its comprehensive election platform.
NDP officials stated their strategy aims to achieve a balanced budget within four years, all while prioritizing substantial investments in affordability initiatives, healthcare improvements, poverty alleviation, and efforts to tackle climate change.
The NDP’s platform, named “Give People a Break,” introduces a variety of affordability initiatives aimed at supporting New Brunswick residents.
Key proposals include a ‘Grocery Rebate’ that would double the current HST Tax Credit, an increase in the Low-Income Senior’s Benefit, and a significant expansion of the NB Child Tax Benefit to combat child poverty.
Additionally, the plan includes free school lunches for all K-12 public school students, a $200 annual reduction in residential electricity bills, a 20 per cent cut in tuition fees, rent increase caps, a gradual rise of the minimum wage to $20/hour over four years, and the elimination of the consumer carbon tax, which would be replaced by a cap-and-trade system that holds major polluters accountable.
The NDP also pledges to make a considerable investment in healthcare, planning to launch 40 community health clinics. They will join the federal pharmacare initiative, work towards universal pharmacare by removing premiums from the current NB Drug Plan while increasing enrollment, and expand Medicare to cover mental health therapy.
The strategy includes considerable new investments in public services, which will add 1,500 early-learning childcare spaces, 2,000 public housing units, and 250 nursing home beds.
It also prioritizes significant funding for climate change solutions, such as municipal public transit improvements, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and a no-cost heat pump program.
Additionally, the plan waives provincial sales tax on purpose-built rental apartments to help lower the costs of new home construction and restores revenue-sharing agreements with First Nations communities that were eliminated by the Higgs Government.
The proposal would also be designed to meet its commitments by raising taxes on large corporations, banks, insurance companies, and individuals with incomes exceeding $150,000 per year.
It also seeks to roll back important tax cuts that the Higgs government granted to the wealthy, such as reductions in timber royalties and property taxes for landlords.
The NB NDP plans to establish a payroll health levy exclusively for large employers to finance major new healthcare initiatives, similar to taxes already implemented in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
“It’s time to give people a break. A break from the cost of living and a break from the traditional parties who are more focused on helping their rich friends and continuing to starve our public services of funding,” said NB NDP Leader Alex White.
“While the Liberals would keep Premier Higgs’ tax cuts for the rich and commitment to austerity, our plan will give regular people a break and invest in public services by asking the ultra-rich to start paying their fair share.”
