The Progressive Conservative leader faced questions from the province’s business leaders Tuesday as part of a political leadership series.
Business leaders focused on a wide range of topics during the hour-long session including taxation, nuclear energy, small modular reactors and health care.
Blaine Higgs was asked what his party would do to help the tourism and hospitality industries as we enter the slower season in the fall and winter months.
Higgs touted his party’s rebate program which encourages New Brunswickers to get out and explore the province. The PC leader has committed to extending the incentive through March if re-elected.
“I think we’ve got people, and I’m seeing that now, who want to come to New Brunswick. The only reason they’re not is because we’ve got the borders closed. Are we going to be able to open borders before the fall season? I guess that depends on how things start up with schools, how things start with universities,” he said.
If things on the COVID-19 front remain stable, Higgs said he is hopeful the province can recover some tourism during the fall season.
Higgs said the province also has several programs to help businesses through the pandemic, such as the business navigator program through Opportunities New Brunswick.
Another participant asked the PC leader what his party would do to address “unfair aspects” of the province’s current property tax regime and local government.
“I think there’s a real need to have more money into regions and let the regions have the capability to decide where they put their dollars for sustainability and growth,” said Higgs.
Higgs also touched on his party’s plan to slash the so-called “double tax” on apartment buildings, cottages and second homes, which was deferred due to COVID-19.
He said he hopes to put it in place next year depending on the province’s economic situation at that time.
“I’ve committed to no new taxes in the province. I think we are definitely taxed high enough and I would like to get back on that program,” said Higgs.
The topic of nuclear energy and small modular reactors also came up during the question-and-answer session.
Higgs was asked why he supports SMRs when NB Power admits they are more costly than renewables paired with battery storage and other conventional means of energy generation.
“Currently, there isn’t anything available that would meet the thirst of world energy. Here we have a big opportunity in New Brunswick. We have nuclear capability, we have a permitted site, we have the actual expertise to develop this,” he said.
Higgs said the PCs have a plan to further develop SMRs, noting memorandums of understanding signed with several provinces last year.
He said the province has already committed resources to the technology and have received commitments from the federal government.
