New Brunswick’s Liberal Party is calling on the Higgs government to remove the provincial sales tax on NB Power bills and create more supports for university students.
Opposition members tabled Motion 30 on Thursday, which urges the province to remove the provincial portion of the HST from residential electricity bills to help address the rising cost of home heating.
Rising inflation means many New Brunswickers are struggling to make ends meet and they shouldn’t “take a hit just to pad the surplus,” according to Liberal Energy Critic Keith Chiasson.
“Removing the provincial sales tax on home heating bills will go a long way in helping people with the rising cost of living,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Liberals also tabled a motion that aims to provide upfront financial support for post-secondary students by bringing forward a comprehensive assistance program.
Chiasson, who also serves as the official opposition’s post-secondary education, training and labour critic, said the Higgs government “has taken away” needs-based supports for post-secondary students and they are struggling.
“From cancelling the Free Tuition Program and the Tuition Relief for the Middle Class program to scrapping EI Connect, students have been left behind without any upfront support to embark on their higher education path,” he said.
“New Brunswick has the lowest rate of post-secondary enrolment directly from High School, while also facing a labour crisis.We need to be doing more to remove barriers to access higher education.”