New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Friday 29 November 2024
On Daily Sitting 8 (Friday, November 29, 2024) of the First Session of New Brunswick's 61st Legislature, Premier Susan Holt resumed and concluded the adjourned debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, delivering the closing speech in both English and French. She offered extensive thanks, laid out her government's governing philosophy of collaboration, transparency, and fiscal responsibility, reviewed early accomplishments 32 days into her mandate, and outlined priorities in health care, housing, affordability, education, mental health, public safety, and the environment. The Address was adopted without amendment, and after procedural motions were completed the House adjourned.
Orders of the Day
Throne Speech Debate – Premier's reply and closing remarks
Hon. Ms. Holt
Premier Holt resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, thanking the Speaker, elected members, her constituents of Fredericton South-Silverwood, her campaign team ('the Knock Stars'), volunteers, and her family. She outlined her government's priorities of health care, affordability, housing, education, and the environment, stressing the need for change, rebuilding public trust, open and digital government, measurable outcomes, balanced budgets, and flexible, community-based solutions that are not one-size-fits-all.
Premier's address on government priorities and Throne Speech
The Premier
The Premier reviewed early actions in the government's first 32 days, including amending Regulation 84-20 to improve abortion access, tabling rent-cap legislation, removing tax from home electricity use and multi-unit developments, and nurse retention bonuses. She said the government is reevaluating projects like the Minto jail to be fiscally responsible and to break from past political practices.
Health care transformation
The Premier
She described plans to transform primary care through 30 team-based, community-focused collaborative care clinics, reduce the 21% of New Brunswickers without access to care, tackle long-term care and home care shortages, introduce a caregiver benefit, and negotiate new worker contracts to show respect for care providers.
Mental health
The Premier
The Premier stressed integrating mental health care into primary care, schools, and first responder/police training, calling mental health the coming health crisis of our time and citing the lack of school psychologists and community services.
Housing crisis
The Premier
She detailed measures to address housing including a 3% rent cap effective February 1, removing HST from new housing developments, property tax reform, working with municipalities on land access, and building more public and supportive housing toward a goal of 30,000 new homes.
School breakfast and lunch programs
The Premier
The Premier highlighted a universal breakfast program and pay-what-you-can lunch program in every school featuring New Brunswick food, describing it as a win-win-win-win that supports children's learning, relieves teachers and families, and promotes social cohesion.
Collaboration with the opposition
The Premier
She acknowledged opposition concerns from the Throne Speech replies, welcomed suggestions to make programs go further or be more efficient, and stressed that a majority does not mean doing whatever they want but rather listening and collaborating.
Public safety and environment priorities
The Premier
She addressed criticism that the Throne Speech omitted public safety and the environment, affirming both are priorities, mentioning a mental health advocate and court, residential treatment facilities, crime reduction, emissions reduction, clean energy, and forthcoming energy news.
Governing approach and official languages
The Premier
Closing her address, the Premier emphasized that how the government works is as important as what it works on, committing to data-driven, inclusive engagement, involvement of First Nations, and respect for the Official Languages Act.
Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier delivered bilingual remarks affirming commitment to the Official Languages Act, emphasizing collaboration between municipalities, non-profits, business, government and academia, and expressing pride in her diverse team and a throne speech focused on health care, housing, and education. She noted her pride in being the first female Premier of New Brunswick and readiness for change.
Adoption of the Address
Madam Speaker
With the debate ended, the Speaker read the address, put the question, and it was agreed to without amendment.
Government Motion on Business of the House and Appointments
Hon. Ms. Holt
Hon. Ms. Holt, seconded by Hon. Mr. Legacy, moved that the address in reply be engrossed, signed by the Speaker, and presented to Her Honour; the Speaker appointed Hon. Ms. Holt, Mr. Bourque, and Ms. Wilcott to present it. Mr. M. LeBlanc then moved adjournment, and the House adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
This is Tabled's summary of the sitting, written from the official record; Hansard is only ever quoted at the link above. Search New Brunswick Hansard for the words themselves, or read this sitting in the archive.