New Brunswick’s Liberal finance critic reacted to the provincial budget, describing it as a missed opportunity.

The member of the Official Opposition René Legacy says, “There’s an influx of revenue coming into the province, we could be sitting here debating the pros and cons of different innovative ways to tackle healthcare and find creative solutions on housing, we could be figuring out how to make this economic opportunity work for New Brunswickers.  There was an opportunity here to lead New Brunswick into the future by tackling the big challenges head on but I guess because of a lack of vision, that opportunity is being wasted.”

Legacy adds the budget presentation was littered with nominal amounts and incremental increases in various departments, but they don’t appear to be enough to cover inflationary realities.

“It’s so disappointing to see the same old tired tactics at a time when our province is dealing with real challenges. There’s an influx of revenue coming into the province, we could be sitting here debating the pros and cons of different innovative ways to tackle healthcare and find creative solutions on housing, we could be figuring out how to make this economic opportunity work for New Brunswickers,” Legacy stated.

The leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party supported Legacy’s speech in the legislature on Thursday and said she was disappointed once again by this government’s lack of compassion and action.

“We’re feeling let down once again. They had the opportunity to help New Brunswickers and instead, they are kicking the can down the road” says Liberal Leader Susan Holt. “The Higgs government has missed the chance of a generation to lead New Brunswick into the future, and instead chose pennies over people.”