PC Opposition attacks Liberal tariff plan, won't say what they'd do

The day after New Brunswick's Liberal government tabled a budget with a $549 million deficit, the Opposition Progressive Conservatives had virtually nothing to say about it.

The PCs instead devoted most of their time in the legislature Wednesday to criticizing the Liberals for their response to the threat of U.S. tariffs.

But the PCs didn't often any concrete proposals of their own — other than the revival of an oil pipeline and a natural gas industry they've been championing for more than a decade.

"For many New Brunswickers who have been looking for action and looking for leadership, the premier has failed to meet the moment," said PC MLA Bill Oliver, one of several who used their allocated time to criticized Premier Susan Holt.

"It looks like the premier has turned thumbs down to 'elbows up,'" added his colleague Bill Oliver, referring to the popular slogan adopted by Canadians in the trade war.

Holt unveiled a tariff "action plan" on March 4 that includes funds to retrain any laid-off workers and money to help exporters adapt if they are hit with tariffs on products they sell into the U.S. market.

So far, she has avoided more dramatic moves, such as threatening to cut off — or slapping a surcharge on — electricity exports that allow 58,000 residents of northern Maine to turn on their lights and heat their homes.

"It appears that the premier and the deputy premier are more concerned with the power bills of folks in northern Maine who voted for Donald Trump than they are with the New Brunswickers who actually voted for them," said PC MLA Sherry Wilson.

But speaking to reporters later, PC Leader Glen Savoie said his party was not endorsing a surcharge on, or cutting of, power transmission to Maine.

He said Wilson's comment was a tongue-in-cheek way of highlighting Liberal inaction.

The premier said during question period that she had met with Savoie and Green Leader David Coon on the issue and Savoie had not offered any alternative ideas the government could pursue.

"I have yet to hear any suggestions from the opposition on what we should be doing differently, on things we should be adding," Holt said.

"If they think that we haven't budgeted sufficient amounts at $162 million, do they have better estimates for what they think this might cost?" 

The PCs had called for the legislature to be called back earlier than its scheduled March 18 date for more debate on the tariff response, something the government turned down.