The restoration of the Petitcodiac River was among the topics as the four candidates in the riding of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe gathered for an election debate on Rogers TV over the weekend.
NDP candidate Luc LeBlanc said his party favours replacing the causeway with a bridge – something the province has said it will commit to once the federal government gets on board.
He says, “The building of the Causeway in 1968, was a mistake, it was a historic mistake. It never should have happened, but there is nothing we can do to go back to undo that mistake. The only thing we can do is open up the river by building a bridge instead of the Causeway.”
Green Party candidate Luc Melanson says, “I think there is quite a lot more, than people think because of the dump that is currently there that is leeching substances, and we have to be really careful.”
Incumbent Conservative candidate Robert Goguen doesn’t believe a bridge is necessary right now,
He says, “Certainly it is something to look at, but it should be done in incremental steps. You take the steps to make the river healthy, but the most immediate results would be by purifying the water and the waste.”
Liberal candidate Ginette Petitpas-Taylor says her leader Justin Trudeau has already reached out to the premier and told him it will be a priority for his government.
Immigration to help boost New Brunswick’s declining population was also up for discussion during the debate.
Liberal candidate Ginette Petitpas-Taylor says Canada should do more to bring in refugees who want to make new lives here.
She says, “We also need to make sure that if we welcome them, we have to have the resources available to ensure that we don’t overburden the existing services that are already there. I know that we can certainly do what we need to do, to make them feel welcome.”
Incumbent Conservative candidate Robert Goguen says he helped facilitate a new plan before the election was called, “I was successful in getting funding for what is called a local, immigration partnership with the City of Moncton, which is bringing all the churches and community groups and they will formulate a strategy for the Syrians.”
NDP candidate Luc LeBlanc says his party is committed to helping more refugees come here, “We need to be a part of the Global Solution. 10, 000 refugees for four years, that’s 40, 000 refugees, plus an unlimited amount of private sponsorship.”
How to help grow the economy was also on the minds of the four candidates in the Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe riding.
Green Party candidate Luc Melanson believes Greater Moncton build upon its growing position in the technology sector.
He says, “If we are to become a tech Hub, we have to start looking at education at the ground level. I am a firm believer that technology should be taught in schools like a third language. So you would learn, French, English and programming.”
Liberal candidate Ginette Petitpas-Taylor says she has been hearing a lot of confusion among minimum wage voters on the campaign trail.
She says, “We hear a lot about the NDP increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. What they have failed to indicate is that is only for federally regulated workers across the country, so that’s probably less than one per cent who will see that raise.”
NDP candidate Luc LeBlanc says a free trade deal with Europe would help boost New Brunswick exports, “This will completely revolutionize the local economy here in Moncton. We can ship value added goods to Europe.”
Incumbent Conservative candidate Robert Goguen adds Greater Moncton is in an ideal position to expand seafood exports to Europe and Asia.
