Prime minister criticizes Higgs's tax cut, appointment of Austin to languages committee
Kris Austin's appointment to committee reviewing Official Languages Act 'doesn't make sense', says Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticized recent decisions by Premier Blaine Higgs to give a tax break to high-income earners in New Brunswick and to appoint Kris Austin to a committee of MLAs considering possible changes to legislation protecting language rights.
"One of the things unfortunately we continue to see, is conservative politicians who think that the best way to grow the economy is failed trickle-down theories," Trudeau said Tuesday, speaking to reporters in Oromocto.
Trudeau's first comment came in response to a question about Higgs's request the federal government increase the amount of money it gives to New Brunswick to help fund health care — a request made at the same time that the premier is exploring cutting income taxes.
His second remark followed a question about Higgs's appointment of former People's Alliance leader Kris Austin, now a Progressive Conservative minister, to an internal working group of MLAs tasked with deciding how — or whether — to update the Official Languages Act.
"You don't put someone who's spent his entire career attacking official bilingualism and questioning the need to protect French in New Brunswick or elsewhere, on a panel designed to protect bilingualism in New Brunswick," Trudeau said.
"It doesn't make any sense and it's certainly something I'm going to be bringing up with Premier Higgs when I see him in about an hour."
Trudeau was at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown iin Oromocto for a wreath-laying ceremony to mark Remembrance Day, which is Friday.
He also used the visit to announce that his government would spend an additional $475 million on its Universal Broadband Fund, which aims to bring high-speed internet to 98 per cent of Canadians by 2026.
The announcement included an additional $17.6 million specifically for New Brunswick, following an earlier announcement the province would see $55 million spent to provide high-speed internet to more than 27,000 homes.
The last item on Trudeau's itinerary for the day included a private meeting with Higgs.
Province putting all necessary money into health, Higgs says
Last week, the Progressive Conservative government announced it would draw $70 million less in revenue thanks to income tax cuts for New Brunswickers earning more than $45,000 annually, although the highest cuts would be for those earning $142,534 to $162,383 per year.
Meanwhile, Higgs and other Canadian premiers have criticized Ottawa for not spending enough on Canada Health Transfer payments to help pay for the cost of health care in their provinces.
"Yes, the federal government will be there with more money," Trudeau said Tuesday. "But we also know the provinces have a lot of money they can be investing in health care as well."
In a late afternoon Zoom news conference, Higgs said the Canada health transfer issue wasn't discussed when he met with Trudeau earlier in the day.
Responding to Trudeau's criticism of the tax break, Higgs said just spending more money on health care wouldn't solve every problem, but he maintained that he wants to see Ottawa and New Brunswick split the cost of it equally.
"We are putting whatever money is necessary in health care, and all I have stated is for any service that can deliver better results for the citizens of this province, we will invest in it," Higgs said.
"But if you just say 'Give me more money', but nothing's going to change, what does that accomplish? And that's what's been happening in health care for a long, long time."
Higgs added that the last provincial budget included a $300 million increase in health-care spending, and that the ask is for Ottawa to increase the share it pays in health care, which is currently about 22 per cent.
"It was supposed to be 50-50. All we're saying is it should go up to at least 35 per cent. So that's just a case of an equity share between the feds and the province, which was always part of the original formula."
Defending Austin's appointment
Higgs confirmed Trudeau brought up Austin's appointment to the committee during their meeting, adding he was "surprised" the prime minister did so considering "all of the issues we have going on in our country," including inflation and high fuel prices.
"I'm kind of surprised that the allocation of a member of cabinet onto an ad hoc caucus committee would be, would be of national concern," Higgs said.
Higgs has previously defended Austin's appointment to the committee reviewing changes to the Official Languages Act, and did so again on Tuesday.
Higgs said there's "no debate" that the Official Languages Act is important and that his government is obligated to uphold it.
"That is all well-established and we're all fully 100 per cent supportive, and that includes Kris Austin, so there isn't any debate on any of that.
"That is something we all cherish as residents of this province, and any discussion we have is how do we enhance that capability? How do we ensure that the service deliveries continue to get better? How do we ensure that more people actually speak both official languages?"
Higgs said other topics he discussed with Trudeau included the potential for New Brunswick to export liquid natural gas, cutting the usage of coal-powered electricity plants, and carbon emission reduction strategies.
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