Cathy Rogers hosts 1st pre-budget session, sees clash of ideas

The Gallant government held the first of nine pre-budget consultations in Fredericton Wednesday night and very little was agreed upon.

The small discussion groups, which included members of the public as well as opposition parties, heard that the province should and shouldn't introduce a carbon tax, that schools should close and open, and a myriad of views on highway tolls.

Despite the disagreement Finance Minister Cathy Rogers said she is a supporter of the discussion format.

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"I love this format," said Rogers.

"It's important because we need to continue the dialogue and give them the opportunity to speak back into government about anything that might be different or new because things change. Nothing stays the same."

More than 70 people attended the two-hour meeting.

The consultation comes just a day after the government announced the provincial deficit is now projected to hit an eight-year low.

We really didn't accomplish anything here tonight.- Jim Cougle

Several of the small groups in attendance agreed the province should continue to stay the course when it comes to spending, while others hoped the return of a balanced budget before the 2020-21 target set by the government.

Rogers said while people are often quick to offer opinions on where to spend money, they can also point to where the government should cut.

"I take that those seriously," said Rogers.

"When I hear about simple efficiencies that we might not have considered these are very important. So I'm looking forward to what we'll hear going forward."

Critical citizens

There were criticisms about how much the government was spending in some areas.

Jim Cougle, who represented the group Save NB Now, said education is a place where efficiencies can be made,

"There are apparently 72 schools that should be closed … They are at under 50 per cent capacity, there's no need to keep schools open that are half full," said Cougle.

Although he attended the meeting, Cougle said he is pessimistic about the consultations.

"Government has never listened. They're not going to listen," said Cougle.

"We really didn't accomplish anything here tonight."  

Others were more optimistic about the process.

Chris George, a student at the University of New Brunswick, said he thought the session went really well.

"I thought it was open, transparent. Gave us an opportunity to have feedback. I got to hear people," said George.

"That's the one thing with governance and politics is being able to sit down with civil discourse and engage in conversation."

George said the long-term future of the province was the concern most discussed in his group.

"We are looking at 50, or 100 years down the road," said George.

"We're looking at what the earth is telling us, what the climate is telling us, industry, the economy. And we want to know how we can adapt our ways of living and our lifestyles and cultures to meet our needs and the needs of this society."  

The province will host eight more pre-budget consultations in Florenceville, Moncton, Neguac, Balmoral, Bathurst, Edmundston, Saint Andrews, before wrapping up in Saint John on Dec. 5.