The Progressive Conservatives responded to the throne speech Thursday, and interim leader Glen Savoie had a simple message.

“The failures of this government are becoming a clear pattern of behaviour for the people of this province,” Savoie said. “When government fails, people suffer.”

Savoie said when the Liberals presented their ideas to the public during the last election, people voted for them based on the promise they would deliver.

“There is no joy to be had in the litany of promises this government has failed to and will continue to fail to deliver,” he said. “That they broke them and continue to break them is of no surprise to me or anyone who voted for (the Progressive Conservatives).”

Savoie listed a number of promises he said the government has failed to keep, including balanced budgets, removal of the carbon adjuster from gas prices, and creating an office for a mental health advocate.

“Last year’s speech from the throne mentioned and I quote $10,000 payments will be made to all nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses working in public hospitals and long-term care facilities,” Savoie said. “Really? Did all these nurses receive these payments? No.”

Savoie said the Liberals will have to answer for what he called “the damage they have done and continue to do.”

“This is a government that refuses to accept responsibility,” he said. “They are good at making announcements. But when it comes to being held to account in the media for the decisions they have made, it is a bad and common refrain that the media reports that a minister was not made available for an interview or that they simply sent a statement.”

Savoie wrapped up by explaining the role of the official Opposition.

“It is not our sworn duty to help the government explain and excuse their many failures to New Brunswickers,” he said. “The laws of physics teach us that without friction, you cannot have any traction. The Westminster parliamentary system assigns the duty of friction to the Opposition.”

Savoie said when government fails, people suffer. But he said it’s also true that people prosper when government succeeds.

“It is important to remember that when we oppose something, it does not necessarily mean that we are opposed to the idea,” he said. “It may simply be that we disagree on how to do it or we have doubts that this government can accomplish it as promised.”

Savoie said if Liberal MLAs chose to criticize him following his speech, it meant they had focused on the politics of things rather than their duty to deliver for New Brunswickers.

“Will they look to assign blame, deflect, look in the rearview mirror, or will they take responsibility, apologize to New Brunswickers, and do better?” he asked.

“When government does better, people win. And that is what we as the official Opposition want for the people of New Brunswick.”