New Brunswick Capital Budget Adds $ 78 Million in Spending – New Brunswick | The Canadian News

The New Brunswick government has presented its capital budget for 2022-2023.

Adds $ 78.1 million in expenses for a total of $ 746.8 million.

Finance Minister Ernie Steeves introduced the capital budget to the legislature on Tuesday.

“The improvement in our fiscal situation means that the increase in our budget is one that we can afford and allows us to begin to address our infrastructure deficit,” Steeves said in his speech Tuesday.

The budget, he said, should support $ 550 million in GDP and 6,500 jobs. Promote improvements for creative, vibrant and sustainable communities.

It included $ 338.8 million for the maintenance and improvement of highways, roads and bridges in the province. Steeves highlighted $ 11.7 million to continue the rehabilitation of the Centennial Bridge in Miramichi and $ 10 million for the Salmon River Bridge in Chipman.

There is a $ 51.7 million increase in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure budget, Steeves said, with a total budget of $ 414.0 million.

His second focus was reliable medical care.

Though sparse on details, Steeves said there will be improvements to the hospitals, including renovations.

“Maintaining the status quo will only lead to a deterioration of services,” he said in his speech. “This is simply not acceptable.”

The government said it plans to invest $ 153.2 million in healthcare infrastructure.

“Of this total, $ 103.8 million will be for the continuation of renovations, additions and other improvements in the province, and $ 49.4 million will be for capital and equipment improvements,” he said in his speech.

“The ongoing work at Chaleur Regional Hospital and Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital are two examples of where the government continues to make significant investments in healthcare infrastructure.”

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Education was also discussed.

The government said it will invest a total of $ 84.7 million in the province’s K-12 infrastructure, including $ 12.7 million for the new K-5 school on the north side of Fredericton and $ 10.8 million for the new francophone school complex in Moncton.

Finally, he spoke of an affordable and responsive government.

“With the improvements we have made in our financial situation, we can do more. However, our government has always taken a disciplined approach to managing our finances, and today’s budget is no different, ”Steeve said in his speech.

His speech said that he is confident that the five-year plan is one that New Brunswickers can afford.

The opposition says things are missing

While the numbers are close to what the Liberals planned to spend under Gallant, the Official Opposition said things are missing from this budget.

“I also realized and details will come, but I want to say that I do not see money for a ferry on Campobello Island,” interim Liberal leader Roger Melanson told reporters.

“I don’t see the money to go ahead with Route 11 as originally planned. I don’t see money for Shippigan Bridge. I don’t see money for the Anderson Bridge. I suspect there is money for that. “

Melanson also asked why the ventilation of the school and hospital was not mentioned. He said he hopes there will be investments there as the ads run.

He argued that there is a clock on the federal interest in investment.

“Governments have a role to play,” he said.

Greens say budget missed mark on climate

Green Party leader David Coon said the budget was the status quo.

“Capital budgets represent investments in the future and this capital budget discounts the future because the great challenges we face are, of course, the consequences of climate change and the need to decarbonize our economy,” he said in statements to the journalists.

Coon said there is a clear lack of interest in protecting the New Brunswick Islands. He said there is a clear lack of funds for a much-needed full-time ferry to Campobello Island and the dilapidated bridge between Lamèque and Miscou.

Steeves did not respond to specific questions about projects, saying he will leave it up to responsible ministers to make announcements on individual budgets.