We Ask the Candidates: How Will You Help Business in NB?
With the federal election coming up, we wanted to get a picture of how the political parties stack up when it comes to supporting business. So we reached out to a candidate from each of the four main parties (yes, including the Green Party, because, you know, democracy) and asked them what their party will do for business in New Brunswick, if elected.
Here’s what we heard back.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal candidate in Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
Our Liberal Party overall economic plan is what New Brunswick and this riding needs. Reductions in corporate taxes to 9% will be a boost to business.
Justin Trudeau’s commitment to collaborate with our province in many areas of mutual interest is important certainly as we compare the Harper government’s record even when the New Brunswick government was Conservative. Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe is a hub of commercial activity, service industries, governmental services and information technology industries. We need to build capacity to develop even further through research and development, use of university capacity in this field and better relations with the provincial and municipal governments.
Already in this riding new jobs are foreseen with the construction of the civic centre in downtown Moncton, thanks to the Provincial investment of a forgivable loan of $21 million and the City’s contribution of $39 million. The final contribution of federal participation is still required and I will ensure it happens. There are many infrastructure proposals, such as the Moncton wastewater plant, that are awaiting support – and throughout New Brunswick – and I will work hard with my colleagues to support as many as we can. I commit myself to serving this riding with all the energy that is required. I will maintain a collaborative approach to work with all community leaders, both from the business sector as well as the social sector with whom I have great familiarity.
Mary Lou Babineau, Green Party candidate in Fredericton
The Green Party is a party that is concerned about and committed to two things above all others: the integrity of our democratic institutions and our responsibility to prepare for a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future.
The most common complaint that I have heard from constituents throughout this campaign is that they no longer feel that their elected representatives are listening to them and speaking up for them. They tell me that elected representatives now appear to work for their political parties and not for the people. The Green Party is committed to working to reverse this trend. Our elected representatives are connected to their communities, they listen to their constituents, they advocate for them, and they are free to vote against party lines if that is what their constituents want them to do. We want to restore people’s faith and trust in their elected representatives, and this is something that I am particularly passionate about; it gives me hope for our strong, democratic future!
As a mother and as an educator, our future is without a doubt the most important focus of my professional and personal life. I worry about my students’ future and I worry about my daughter’s future. I was attracted to the Green Party because it is the only party that has a long-term, comprehensive vision for developing a strong economy around sustainable principles. It is also the Party with the greatest focus and the most significant commitments to our youth and their future. The Green Party affirms their right to a healthy environment, to accessible post-secondary education and training, and to the creation of thousands of paid internships to give them the work experience that they need and deserve, and that this country needs in order to continue to grow and prosper.
AJ Griffin, New Democratic Party candidate for Saint John-Rothesay:
Here are three platform commitments on prudent economic investment and assistance to small business that I believe will be of real value in our riding of Saint John-Rothesay:
Help local business grow by cutting the small business tax rate from 11% to 9%, supported by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
Work with towns and cities to build new roads, bridges and community infrastructure. These investments will support local construction and engineering firms, creating additional employment.
Kick-start manufacturing with a new Innovation Tax Credit for businesses that invest in equipment, machinery and property used in innovation boosting research and development.
Tilly O’Neill-Gordon, Conservative candidate for Miramichi-Grand Lake
We asked Ms. O’Neill-Gordon’s campaign multiple times for a comment, but did not receive one.