October 8, 2024

FREDERICTON – Today, David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick, announced a bold plan to tackle climate change that will make life more affordable, while creating new green jobs. Coon said the Green plan will provide affordable alternatives to driving, enable New Brunswickers to harvest free energy from the sun, and cut their power costs.

A Green government will establish  a provincial rapid rail  network. The first phase will connect Campbellton, Moncton, and Sackville, with daily commuter service  by 2028. Subsequent phases will connect Saint John and Moncton, and Fredericton to Saint John. 

“To increase the frequency of city buses and provide improved routes, we will invest $4 million to improve city transit budgets in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, and Miramichi, representing a 15% increase to their annual budgets,” Coon noted. “We will  also introduce a Toonie Transit model similar to PEI to provide affordable regional transportation.”

Coon also highlighted plans to promote solar energy adoption by expanding initiatives like the Shediac pilot project and restructuring energy efficiency programs to reduce heating and cooling costs for households. 

“These measures aim to lower both power bills and New Burnswickers’ fight climate breakdown,” said the Green Party leader.

Funding for these initiatives will come from a new Cap-and-Trade system, to replace the existing consumer carbon tax. 

“We are going to price carbon differently so that it is more effective and more affordable for the average person,” said Coon.  

“A Cap-and-Trade carbon pricing system will  shift more of  the financial burden to industrial polluters, the largest source of carbon emissions in the province, and lower the costs on consumers who have fewer options than industry to cut their emissions, “ said Coon."Only the Green Party is offering effective climate action measures that will cut pollution and cut costs for consumers.”

The Province of Quebec currently prices carbon with a Cap-and Trade system rather than with a consumer carbon tax.

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