N.B. PC opposition says Liberal budget undoing work of Higgs government

New Brunswick’s budget is spending millions on its growing debt.

New Brunswick’s official opposition says this week’s Liberal provincial budget is squandering the previous Progressive Conservative government’s financial performance.

“We’re undoing pretty much all of the good work that has been done in recent years to put our fiscal house in order,” says Progressive Conservative finance critic Don Monohan, presenting the official opposition’s budget response in the legislature on Thursday.

Tuesday’s budget projects a nearly $1.4-billion deficit and net debt of $15.9 billion. The province’s debt-to-GDP ratio of 30.8 per cent is expected to increase by 2028-29 to 36 per cent.

Monohan said the previous PC government under former premier Blaine Higgs provided financial prudence that has since been wasted.

“During the Higgs’ years, the government managed to lower the debt by $2 billion,” he said. “We’ve undone that work in one year.”

Premier Susan Holt responded to the PC’s budget criticism during Wednesday’s first post-budget question period, saying “we (had) to dig ourselves out of a hole that the previous government created.”

“The budget we have put forward does something I can understand the members opposite might not be familiar with,’ said Holt. “It tackles years of underspending in health care, and it puts New Brunswickers first.”

Monohan, who was first elected in 2024, announced his candidacy for leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in February.

Daniel Allain, a former PC minister of local government (who was removed from cabinet by Higgs because of dissent during debate on Policy 713) officially announced his candidacy in October.

The New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives will elect a new leader in October.

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