David Coon, MLA/Député

Mr. Coon: Earlier this week, the federal government released the emissions inventory for Canada. New Brunswick’s emissions are included in that. Since 1990, our emissions from electricity generation have been going down in terms of carbon pollution because of the high price of oil that we have been experiencing. We have been phasing out oil to generate electricity, which is positive.

On the other side, our emissions from transportation have been going up and now represent one third of all our carbon pollution emissions in New Brunswick. My question for the Premier is this: What will he do to cut these high carbon pollution levels from the transportation sector?

 

Hon. Mr. Kenny: As you know, we just came back from the climate summit in Quebec City. Finding ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and improve our air quality is definitely on our radar in New Brunswick. We are working on many issues with the Department of Energy and with our transportation sector to improve our highways.

In fact, a few weeks ago, I hosted an electric car symposium here in the province to have experts from around the province and throughout Canada speak about how we can find ways to improve our transportation sector. Yesterday was Earth Day. We made statements in the House about promoting the effective use of public transportation. There are many sectors that we are looking at to combat climate change in the province. I will work with the member opposite on some ideas that he has. It is a good dialogue . . .

Mr. Speaker: Time, minister.

Mr. Coon: UNBSJ’s Dr. Yves Bourgeois did a report in 2014 looking at the cost of car dependence in New Brunswick. Our bare-bones public transportation service means that the cost of working is higher here than it is in the rest of Canada. Low-income New Brunswickers pay 17% of their income for transportation, compared to 11% for other low-income Canadians. Why? Because there are few alternatives to driving. That is why we have 5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

I have met two people who moved to New Brunswick for work who had never owned a vehicle but say that they were forced to buy cars because of inadequate transit. Will the Premier establish a dedicated fund to invest in public transportation, financed by a small fee on fossil fuel imports to this province?

Hon. Mr. Kenny: In the past, we have looked at many ways in the province, especially in rural areas . . . In fact, a few years ago, in Bathurst; I worked with a number of stakeholders to look at ways to improve public transit. One size fits all does not work for New Brunswick on this. Rest assured that our province, under the leadership of our Premier and our Department of Environment; along with many stakeholders in the province . . . We have to look at every alternative we have to get more people onto public transit or to carpool. There are a lot of things we can do with public education too.

It is a fact that 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation in the province, and we have a duty to combat those issues. It is going to take some time, and it is going to take some leadership. We have to work with all our stakeholders throughout the province to find ways to do it. I will work with the member opposite if he has some good ideas. I am definitely open to suggestions. That is why we went to the climate change action summit in Quebec, to be able to look at these ideas and share these ideas. .

Mr. Speaker: Time, minister.

Mr. Coon: According to Dr. Bourgeois’s study, it costs the equivalent of $5.74 per hour from a person’s wages to maintain a compact vehicle. If you are living on minimum wage, that leaves just $4.60 per hour to pay for child care, food, clothing, and shelter, before taxes. You can see why it is so expensive for people in New Brunswick to get to work.

We need a convenient system of public transportation in this province to provide an alternative to the high cost of driving and to cut our carbon pollution. While our overall carbon emissions have now fallen by 5%, below 1990’s, the carbon footprint of driving has grown and the cost for New Brunswickers to get to work, because of our inadequate transportation system, continues to grow.

Will the Premier use his Strategic Infrastructure Initiative to build a public transportation system that actually works, both for people and the environment? Thank you.

Hon. Mr. Kenny: The member has brought up some good points. That is why we are investing in infrastructure to have better roads, so we can have better and safer transportation in the province. We are also working on improving access to child care. We are improving issues to be able to help families here in New Brunswick.

Our number one priority is to create jobs to help people in need get around the province. Number two is to get our fiscal balance in order. Number three is to be able to help our families. Those are our main priorities. We will do that in conjunction with working with all the people in the province to find ways to have better transportation in the province.

It is a balanced approach. It is about getting families to work in the province, and it is also about reducing climate change here in the province. We are working on all aspects, as the member opposite mentioned. We want to work collaboratively. If you have more ideas about working together, this is the place to bring them up. Meet with me, and let’s work together to move our province forward. Thank you.

ORAL QUESTIONS 35 QUESTIONS ORALES

April 23, 2015 Not finalized / Non finalisé le 23 avril 2015