24 AUGUST 2014

(Fredericton) Green Leader David Coon released his party's position on job creation today, saying the mission of government should be to help communities and businesses create jobs for tomorrow's made-in-New Brunswick, greener economy, and not throw good money after bad by investing in industries in decline.

Coons says the new jobs are in growing our provincial food economy to supply local food, they are in replacing fossil fuel energy with local renewable energy and fuels, they are in energy efficiency and green building design and construction, they are in expanding the clean tech and information technology sectors, and they are in sustainable and innovative uses of our forest and marine resources.

"New Brunswickers have a clear choice when it comes to job creation," says Coon. "I am very happy to say that the Green Party has put together a practical, achievable plan that will strengthen local economies in both our rural communities and our cities, without sacrificing our water or our health. We need to supply more of what New Brunswickers need locally while embracing businesses and industries which reduce our dependence on fossil fuels," says the Green Party leader.

"The other parties have their heads buried in sand— they would have you believe the only choice is sticking to their old failed policies of exporting evermore non-renewable resources and clearcutting . That approach has obviously failed when you look at our high rates of unemployment. What NB voters need to hear more about are the jobs of tomorrow," says Coon.

Highlights of the green jobs strategy include:
• Driving job creation by sending the right policy signals. The Green Party commits to developing major new legislation to increase the demand for local food, energy efficiency, renewable energy, value-added forest products and green transportation;
• Shifting the focus of economic development from one of dependence to one of initiative, built around supplying more of what New Brunswickers need from local enterprises employing local people - guided by a new import replacement strategy.
• Inspiring our young people, entrepreneurs and industry by setting clear goals to wean New Brunswick society away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy.
• Igniting new start-ups and the expansion of local enterprise by finding ways to keep some of the investment money that flows out of New Brunswick to the big banks and international companies, at home to create jobs here.

The Green Party's approach to job creation is a win for our communities and a win for our environment," says Coon. "It begins with focusing on how best to sustain our communities in the long-term interests of our children and their children. When you put serving people and their communities at the heart of an economic development strategy that is built on new ideas, imagination and ingenuity, the possibilities abound. That's what sets the Green Party's job creation strategy apart from all the others," says Coon.