Party leaders talk financial literacy, housing, mental health on the campaign trail

The day after theleaders'debate, the Liberals and PCs campaigned Thursday on some issuesthey haven't touched on yet in this election, while the Greens continued to build on housing promises.

PC Leader Blaine Higgs also refused to answer reporters who askedwhetherhe would make further changes to the sex education curriculum or Policy 713, the gender-identity policy for schools.

Students should know how tomanagemoney, PCs say

In Fredericton, Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs promised to bring a financial literacy curriculum into schools.

By graduation, students will learn about bank accounts and budgeting, Higgs said.

"In today's world, knowing how to manage money is not just an advantage, it's a necessity."

WATCH | Higgs says students should know these financial concepts before graduating:

Higgs promises students improved financial-literacy curriculum if re-elected

3 days ago

Duration 2:10

How do you open a bank account? What is inflation? Essential financial concepts should be taught in schools, Blaine Higgs says, and his party will help bring them into the curriculum if re-elected.

The proposed curriculumwould include informationon debit and credit cards, interest and inflation, mortgages and loans, retirement savings, interest accountsand stocks and bonds, he said.

"Regardless of the career path that they choose, the amount of their pay or where they live, every individual must manage money daily."

Higgs, a former finance minister, said he was inspired to make the promise after seeing a proposal by kids from Junior Achievers, a non-profit youth group that provides business education.

Greens make more housing promises

Speaking at 12 Neighbours in Fredericton, a community of about 100 tiny homes for people who were homeless, Green Leader David Coon praised the organization.

"We need to develop our plans and our actions based on successful models, like 12 neighbours here," Coon said.

Coon promised a 2.5 per cent rent cap, limiting how much landlords could increase rent annually. The Liberals already announced a 3 per cent rent cap as part of their campaign. The PC government briefly had a rent cap in 2022 during the pandemic,but let it expire.

WATCH | What affordable housing could look like under a Green government:

From a rent cap to property taxes: Here's the Greens affordable housing plan

3 days ago

Duration 3:47

David Coon outlines a number of initiatives to address the need for more affordable housing in New Brunswick should he become premier.

Coon promised to create a $100-million annual fund, with a goal to create a minimum of 400 new low-rent apartments every year.

Expanding on previous comments in the campaign to establish a clearer mandate for the N.B. Housing,Coon said he would introduce legislation to give itand municipal housing authorities first refusal onproperties that come up for sale.

For the homeless community, Coon also said he would combine affordable housing initiatives with wraparound supports to better address their needs. He then reiterated a promiseto tie property assessments for rental units to what landlords charge for rent. If a landlord has lower rents, they will pay less in property taxes.

Liberals promise quicker access for mental health care

Liberal Leader Susan Holt spoke in Fredericton about getting people quicker mental health support, especially in schools and the justice system.

"It's something we need to address as a crisis," Holt said, criticizing the PC government for taking too long to build a youth treatment centre in Moncton.

A core part of the plan involves funding team-based community care clinics with a grant program.

WATCH | Holt breaks down her plan to boost mental health services:

Liberal leader unveils plan to tackle mental health

3 days ago

Duration 2:45

If elected, Susan Holt says her party will do five things to improve New Brunswick's mental health system.

She also promised to double the number of residency positions for psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. By implementing 30 grants for the community care clinics, the estimated cost is $1.7 million over four years, she said.

Holt said she would introduce a mental health court as part of the justice system. The cost to add new psychiatrists in this proposal is estimated at $2.4 million over four years.

She said it would help people who are "getting trapped in a system that doesn't recognize their challenge or prevent them from offending again."

Additionally, she would create a mental health advocate within government, similar to the existing child and youth advocate. The cost for the advocate and their staff is estimated at $300,000, she said.

Holt said the average wait time for mental health services in New Brunswick is 66 days, three times the Canadian average of 22 days. Holt said her goal is to get the province's wait time below the national average.

Higgs on sex education, immigration

When asked by a reporterto clarify what he said at the leaders' debate about "going back to the basics in the classroom" and whether he would change sex education or further change Policy 713, Higgs refused to answer the question.

"The announcement today, in case you missed it, was based on financial literacy," Higgs told the reporter.

In May, Higgs banned a sex education group from presenting to schools,after seeing screenshots but not the whole presentation himself.

When asked about population growth, Higgs referred back to comments he made weeks ago alleging that the federal government was sending thousands of asylum seekers to New Brunswick without any financial support. The federal immigration minister called Higgs's comments at the time "largely fictitious."

"That's why we looked at the programs and questioned the asylum seekers, and said, 'Are these real asylum seekers or are they getting into our country illegally?" Higgs said Thursday.

He then clarified that he supports immigration to the province, but that numbers should be more balanced.

"We know, without question, that our immigration population is making our province thrive and survive and prosper and move forward in ways it has never before."

Health care, housing, cost of living most important to voters

A poll from Narrative Research on Atlantic Canadianssuggests that three issues are most important to voters.

The poll is based on a random telephone survey of 1,450 adults in Atlantic Canada, conducted at the end of thesummer.

In New Brunswick, health care was the most important issue mentioned by 21 per cent of participants. Cost of living came next at 17 per cent of New Brunswickers surveyed, and housing at 16 per cent.

Inflation was a lower priority at 7 per cent, and only 2 per cent of those surveys said the economy was their top issue.

"In New Brunswick, where health care emerges as the top issue overall and to those who indicate they would vote for the Liberal party, cost of living and housing are slightly more important issues compared to health care for those who intend to vote for the PC party," the article from Narrative Research said of the poll.

The election is on Oct. 21.

Standings at dissolution: PCs 25, Liberals 16, Greens 3, Independent 1, vacant 4

Where the leaders are today

Green Leader David Coon is in Tracadie for a forestry announcement.

Liberal Leader Susan Holt is making a property tax announcement.

Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs is campaigning in the Fredericton area.

For complete coverage:Links to ll New Brunswick Votes 2024 stories