A5

By David Alward, Leader of the Official Opposition for N.B.

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Last week, the Graham government tabled the Speech from the Throne as another sitting of the New Brunswick Legislature began.

This was supposed to be an opportunity to hear this government's plans for tackling our province's challenges, including how they will lead New Brunswick through one of the worst economic storms we have ever experienced.

However, we heard no such plan and nothing from this government the rest of the week.

With that said, I would like to use this opportunity to discuss this government's lack of direction and what should be done to help New Brunswick overcome the challenges ahead.

Our province is at serious risk of falling into a recession. According to a recent Conference Board of Canada report, economic growth in New Brunswick will be half of what this government predicted in March at one per cent. Next year, economic growth will fall to 0.8 per cent. The report also predicts 3,000 jobs lost and a decline in consumer spending as well as major challenges for businesses.

This bad news comes as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts Canada and many other industrialized countries have entered what will be the worst recession in 30 years. Job losses, business closures and a plunging stock market across the globe in recent months already tell us a recession is very likely. Things are also already getting tight for New Brunswickers. But the Graham government appears to have no plan for dealing with this.

There have been many calls this past week for this government to offer a plan. The members of the opposition have asked for a plan and have even offered suggestions on how to best deal with the situation.

Many New Brunswickers have looked to this government for a plan. Unfortunately, this government has responded with bravado and a wait-and-see attitude.

This government even backed off of the tax reform idea they have trumpeted for many months.

Our dependency on equalization payments from the federal government is also rising despite the Graham government's talk about moving New Brunswick away from relying on these payments. This year's budget tells us equalization payments represented 23.7 per cent of total revenues, up from 22.7 per cent the previous year. Equalization, as a percentage of total revenue is forecast to increase again this year, again putting us further behind the government's objective.

Difficult economic times require strong leadership, proper planning, a willingness to work with others and the right initiatives to deal with a potential recession. But where are these actions from this government?

Our province needs an economic stimulus package to help get the economy moving; across the board tax reductions to help families and businesses; easier access to retirement funds to help New Brunswickers have access to the cash they need; better home-heating assistance to help New Brunswickers make it through the winter; and non-partisan co-operation between political and business leaders so that we can develop and implement the best ideas to help New Brunswickers weather this economic storm.

The government must immediately develop a plan to lead New Brunswick through the difficult time ahead.

This plan must help all New Brunswickers and put money into their pockets so that they can help get the economy moving again. We must also help businesses grow and create the jobs of tomorrow.

But while New Brunswickers worry about their future, government has failed to provide them with any reassurance.

On Monday I am hosting an economic roundtable with business leaders and economic experts from across the province in an effort to identify options for weathering the economic crisis here in New Brunswick.

The premier has turned down the opportunity to participate in this non-partisan roundtable to find solutions that will benefit all New Brunswickers, not just an elite few.

New Brunswickers want a plan for dealing with the economic climate ahead and they want this plan now. Government must deliver that plan and the opposition will continue to work to see that happen.

David Alward, the MLA for Woodstock, was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick on Oct. 18.