Election Day 8: 'Blue economy,' climate change and green energy top agendas

The New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives say they will expand the province's ocean-based "blue economy"if elected next month.

That would include focusing more effort on fisheries exports, tidal powerand the marine transport industry, said PC Leader Blaine Higgs,describing it as an "untapped" "trillion-dollar global market."

"The Liberals have failed to take advantage of the economic opportunity represented by our enormous coastline," he said Thursday during a campaign stop in Bouctoucheat Pays de laSagouine.

"Team Higgs will make it a priority, which will create jobs and attract tourism to coastal communities around the province."

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These are the topics New Brunswick voters care about the most in the upcoming election.

His was one of a handful of election promises made by political party leaders onDay 8 of the campaign.

The Liberals focused on their plan to combatclimate change, while the NDPtalked about transitioning the province to green energy.

The Green Party discussed the inroads they've made across the country and the "groundswell" of support they've seen in New Brunswickheading into the Sept. 24 election.

Higgs said a PC government would instruct NB Power to work with coastal communities to develop proposals for offshore renewable energy projects and create incentives for ocean-based research and product commercialization at post-secondary institutions.

It would alsopromote New Brunswick's coastal communities to businesses and investors around the world to attract more marine transport business and grab a greater share of the tourism market,he said during the morning announcement.

Later, Higgs attended a meet-and-greet with local candidates at theBouctoucheMall and some private meetings before heading back to his home inQuispamsisfor the night.

Liberal Party Leader Brian Gallantstarted his day in Edmundston before heading to the Delta Fredericton to make his platformannouncement.

"A re-elected Liberal government's plan to protect the environment will force big businesses that are large greenhouse gas emitters to pay their fair share, will phase out electricity generated by coal by 2030, and will make sure New Brunswick consumers do not pay one more cent at the pumps or on their power bills," he said.

It came after days of criticism by Higgs, who has vowed not to impose a "job killing" carbon tax, tofight one incourt that is federally imposed and if he loses, torebateconsumersor lower taxes by an equivalent amount.

The federal government has said the provinces must impose a levy on carbon, with a goal of reducingemissions to 30 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030 to comply with the Paris climate treaty. On Jan. 1, 2019, Ottawawill impose its own carbon tax, which it calls a "backstop,"on provinces that don't meet its standard.

"We are the only party with a plan to avoid new costs for consumers," said Gallant.

Since April, 2.3 cents of New Brunswick's 15.5-cent-per-litre gas tax has been shifted into a climate fund to be spent on environmental initiatives. That share will increase every year over five years to 11.64 cents

Although Gallant has previously refused to broach the possibility his plan would be rejected by Ottawa, he said Thursday he would "fight" any imposition of a federal carbon tax "backstop" on New Brunswick.

The Liberals would also push ahead with the more than 100 action items in their 2016 climate change plan, ensuring the province embraces clean technologies and green jobs and helping New Brunswick households become more energy efficient, he told reporters before travelling toMaugerville, Monctonand Dieppe.

Rate freeze 'irresponsible,' says NDP

NDPLeader Jennifer McKenzie, whowas in Saint John for a second day Thursday,criticized another plank of the Liberal platform a four-year NB Power rate freeze for residential customers and small businesses.

She called the election promise "irresponsible."

"Ignoring the advice of the Energy and Utilities Board is very foolish. We saw what happened in Ontario when the government put politics ahead of good advice. Power rates in the long run will go up substantially unless there's a good solid plan behind what you're doing."

She contends the NDPhas put forward forward such a plan. Investing in green energy infrastructure,tapping intowind, solar, hydro, tidal, geothermal and nuclear power, will reduceelectricity prices "significantly," she said.

Given the province's "wonderful resources," "we should be able to transition to a green economy very quickly and very effectivelyif we have the political will to do it."

An NDP government would also invest in other green infrastructure, such as public transit and electrical vehicle charging networks across the province, said McKenzie, who was accompaniedby Nova ScotiaNDPLeader GaryBurrill.

They touredthe Social Enterprise Hub, an uptown office where non-profitgroups and social enterprise businesses share resources and collaborate on community initiatives,visitedKing's Square andthe City Market, then wentcanvassing in the Saint John Harbour riding with volunteers.

A meet-and-greet with party volunteers was slated for 5:30 p.m. at theNDPoffice.

Greens feeling confident

Green Party Leader David Coon was accompanied by federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May for a second straight day andmet with reporters on the front lawn of the legislative assembly Thursday morning to discuss thecampaign to date.

May said she is "quite confident" Coon will be re-elected in the riding of Fredericton South and return to the legislature with a caucus of Green MLAs.

Coon is currently the party's only member in New Brunswick, but May, who has also been campaigning this week with Memramcook-Tantramarcandidate MeganMitton, and attending fundraiser events, said she is seeing a "groundswell" of support for the party in the province and across the country.

She noted when she was first elected federally in 2011, there hadn't been any other Green candidates elected in Canada. Today,there areeight sitting Green party representatives.

"I think New Brunswick will show a big breakthrough," she said, crediting in large part Coon's "hard work" and "spectacular record."

Coon also believes this could be a "pivotal" election for the Greens. People are "tired of the flip-flopping back and forth between Liberals and Tories. They don't see that much difference between them," he said.

"So they're lookingfor an alternative and they're trying to determine now where's the place they can put their vote, who can they trust their vote with, who's going to treat their vote respectfully."

The Green Party's slate of candidates increasingly represents the makeup of the province, he said. More than half of them are women, three are Indigenous, there are millennials and even anoctogenarian.

Coon and May were later scheduled to visit the downtown Garrison Marketto meet with local vendors, thenattend a memorial concert at 7 p.m. at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre in honour of the two fallen city police officers.

Fredericton Police Force Constables RobbCostello, 45, and Sara Burns, 43, were shot and killed on Aug. 10, along withcivilians Donald Robichaud, 42, and Bobbie Lee Wright, 32.

Accused gunmanMatthew Vincent Raymond, 48, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 24.

People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin spent Thursday campaigning door-to-door in his riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake.