Carbon pricing: Higgs returns to the charge and wants to sue Ottawa, if he is elected | New Brunswick Elections 2024

Outgoing Prime Minister Blaine Higgs is once again attacking carbon pricing introduced by the federal government. If he is re-elected, he promises to file a lawsuit against the Trudeau government to “cancel this unfair tax.”

The leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and candidate in Quispamsis denounced the negative effect of the carbon tax on the wallets of New Brunswickers.

Here we are, with an unnecessary carbon tax that increases the cost of every item, in every grocery store, in every consumer product, in every hardware store. All of this continues to grow.

This legal action would be taken if his party comes to power. Blaine Higgs adds that it would be left aside if Pierre Poilievre is elected and the federal government modifies its pricing, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight against climate change.

We just can’t afford itsupports Blaine Higgs. Because every dollar injected into the federal carbon pricing system is a dollar that is not used to improve the health care system, support education or build better infrastructure.

Blaine Higgs instead believes that the solution lies in research and development. He gives electric vehicles as an example and believes that changes in consumer behavior should not be imposed, but rather encouraged.

We need to find technology that adapts to lifestyle and is affordable.

The outgoing Prime Minister wants his adversaries, Susan Holt et David Coonclarify their position on carbon pricing. Should it be canceled next year with a new federal government?he asks them.

A better cellular network, promise the Greens and Liberals

Furthermore, the Liberals and Greens both promised Tuesday to improve cellular network coverage and high-speed Internet access in the provinces.

Visiting Edmundston on Monday, the leader of the Liberal Party and candidate in Fredericton SouthSilverwood, Susan Holtsaid that the reliability of the cellular network and access to the Internet are challenges for many New Brunswickers.

We need to ensure that healthcare providers, teachers, students and their families can use modern technologiesshe said, adding that many entrepreneurs also suffer the consequences of a lack of access to these telecommunications networks.

She explains that the federal government’s Universal Broadband Fund is available, but the Higgs government has failed to take advantage of it. She claims that the province only received $600,000 from this fund, while Prince Edward Island received $1.5 million and Nova Scotia was granted $37 million.

For the rest of us, there is a real problem of fairnessshe said, adding that she wanted to work with the federal government on this issue.

The Liberal Party is therefore committed to improving access to the cellular network on all main roads in New Brunswick. An analysis will be done to assess whether additional cell towers are necessary.

Susan Holt also specifies that 10,000 homes in New Brunswick do not have access to high-speed Internet and that this problem could be resolved for half of them during the first mandate of his government.

For his part, David Coon also believes that the cellular network in the province causes many problems for the population. He says he is surprised by the number of municipalities where access to the network represents a challenge, places which are not in remote regions and should have effective coverage.

The leader of the Green Party and candidate in Fredericton-Lincoln wants to force telecommunications companies to make this access available throughout the province.

If it takes legislation to achieve this, we will do so.

A better cellular network will allow authorities to better manage emergency situations caused by extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes.

This means everyone will receive emergency alerts in the event of a rainstorm, flood, fire or severe weather conditions, and every family will be able to call for help when needed.

The fight against coastal erosion, a priority for the Greens

For the Greens, it is also urgent to act to fight against climate change, particularly against coastal erosion which affects many New Brunswick property owners.

The need is great, as places like Lamèque Island have lost 50 meters of inhabited shoreline to the seabelieves David Coon.

They promise to set up a climate risk reduction fund to help municipalities implement measures to adapt to climate change. Many of them are looking for solutions, but need support from the provincial government.

David Coon also commits to creating a new government office, the Coastal Protection Agency, which will oversee efforts to protect vulnerable communities along the coastline.