During a government news conference this week promoting Liberal successes, Premier Brian Gallant took the opportunity to slam Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs over his previous economic record.
Health-Longest wait times in Canada. Education-8th in Canada with tests cancelled in election year. Economy-forecast to be dead last in Canada. 1 billion dollars in new taxes and nothing to show for it. #nbpoli #gallantsgottago
— NBOfficialOpposition (@NBOpposition) May 28, 2018
Meanwhile, Finance Critic Bruce Fitch believes the premier is going on the attack because he feels threatened by Higgs.
“That’s been the method of operation for the Liberals is to attack when they are threatened, and I’m hearing around my riding that the attack ads are not welcome,” says Fitch. “And it is a reflection, a poor reflection on the premier and his leadership.”
Fitch also questioned the premier’s claims they created 15,126 jobs since taking over the reins.
He says according to what they’ve seen from Statistics Canada, only 2,800 jobs have been created.
“So in those promises, he really wasn’t clear, and I remember the first question I asked was, was that net, or was that gross, and the premier couldn’t answer,” says Fitch. “Because the real measurable is net jobs, because if you create one job and lose two, you’re behind.”
Fitch continues by saying he’s seen Gallant go down a path that is “offensive to the population here in the province of New Brunswick and I hope he doesn’t get another chance to abuse taxpayers the way he has.”
Fitch says if given the choice, he will trust Canada’s top statistics agency over what he calls Liberal spin every time.