The interim leader of New Brunswick’s official opposition says it’s important for the province not to miss any economic opportunities.
Progressive Conservative leader Bruce Fitch says the Liberals seem to be taking a page from the former Alward government to get started.
“The new government has come in and basically said “anything with blue paint on it we’re going to change”,” says Fitch. “Change the name, change the location, just change for the sake of changing.”
Fitch believes the province is entering a period of uncertainty under the Gallant government.
He says the province needs to build on the extraction of gas from shale and take advantage of export opportunities on the horizon.
“The opportunity in extraction of natural gas from shale rock… you can’t ignore that. You need to look at all opportunities,” says Fitch. “We’ve got a tremendous opportunity with export. There’s opportunities out there, we have to make sure we don’t miss them.”
Fitch suggests the Gallant government has even borrowed ideas from the previous governing Tories.
“We’ve seen that with this Opportunities New Brunswick where they are taking a Crown Corporation with a private sector board and creating a Crown Corporation with a private sector board,” says Fitch.
Fitch maintains that building a shale gas industry and export opportunities in Europe, Asia and South America should be important to New Brunswick.
He adds given the province’s bleak financial picture, you can’t turn your back on any opportunities.