People's Alliance Leader: Language is Polarizing Issue

The Miramichi Chamber of Commerce is facilitating a series of luncheons giving the public a chance to meet the leaders of the political parties in NB. Today it was the public's opportunity to meet Kris Austin.

The People's Alliance Party was created amidst widespread opposition to the Liberal government's plan to sell NB Power to Hydro-Quebec and what was perceived as lack of credible opposition from the Progressive Conservatives. The party ran 14 candidate in the last election, and so far have 10 candidates ready to go in September, 2014.

Austin is a former PC nomination candidate from Minto.

Austin outlined the party's stance on

transparency and accountability in government, saying that expenses and attendance need to be more closely monitored. He said his party is pro-energy development with the right safe-guards. He also wants to eliminate handouts to large corporations, a decrease or eliminate tax on small businesses, especially those with income less than $500,000.

He said his party is developing and releasing policy all the time, and guests at the luncheon asked him to consider some policy that would improve homecare for the elderly, as well as make NB's forests a level playing field for all forest product companies.

Austin was asked if New Brunswickers were warming up to his party's stance on language requirements in the civil service.

"I want to be clear, that when it comes to people receiving service in the language of their choice, we support that. We don't want to see anyone lose that service. But are saying that there is a more common sense way of applying the language policies."

Austin pointed out that there are parts of the province where there is very low concentration of francophones, yet there is a policy of having 50% of the frontline civil servants being bilingual. "There are certain lobby groups that are pushing the government on the 50% not only within the civil service, but in private careers such as paramedics."

"This is all political and doesn't make sense to us. It's all political. we want to take the politics out of it."

The prime example of where politics is costing the tax payer, is in healthcare. "I have sat on some panels and had the finance minister and the health minister agree with me, that a huge saving could be realized from making one bilingual health authority out of Horizon and Vitalite. But they say they can't because of politics."

"There is no question in my mind that there is an appetite in New Brunswick for a more common sense way of handling language requirement in the civil service," said Austin. "Don't get me wrong, this is a polarizing issue. Everybody knows that. But what we are saying is that this issue could handled in a way that we could save money and still provide good service to everyone."

"We are seeing support for this in both the anglophone and francophone communities."

The Chamber's Leadership series continues next week when we will be hearing from NDP leader Dominic Cardy, who will be joining us on June 25th from 12 – 1 at the Mirawood Café.

The Chamber has also rescheduled the luncheon with PC leader, Premier David Alward for July 4th from 12 – 1 at Rodd Miramichi.