N.B. premier highlights key initiatives to work on, like health care and housing, in letter to prime minister

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to develop national trade and resource corridors.

In a letter to the prime minister Thursday, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt highlighted a number of priority initiatives she’d like to work on with the federal government.

Holt congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney and his party on the recent federal election win, adding she looks forward to working with him to support New Brunswickers and Canadians.

“Like you, I firmly believe in the promise of Canada. We have the people, the resources, and the determination to build a strong and secure future for our nation and its people,” reads Holt’s letter to the prime minister.

“We agree on what must now be done: protect our sovereignty, unite our economy, and move forward with nation-building projects that will enable us to trade with new and emerging markets around the globe.”

In the letter, Holt focused on seven initiatives she’d like support on:

• nation-building projects
• internal trade
• health care
• Canada’s military
• critical minerals
• immigration
• housing

Nation-building projects

Holt says New Brunswick is Canada’s most trade-oriented province and needs unimpeded access to markets across Canada, and the rest of Canada needs full access to New Brunswick’s seaports.

She says the ports of Saint John and Belledune can play a key role in expanding international trade. However, she adds transportation bottlenecks and infrastructure needs must be addressed first, including commitments to the redevelopment of Simms Corner in Saint John.

The New Brunswick premier says the province’s electricity grid must also be fully integrated into the national electricity system to give residents access to affordable and reliable sources of power.

“Diversifying New Brunswick’s generating system to include wind, solar, nuclear, and more will benefit this province and the Atlantic region by providing new sources of clean and non-emitting electricity to support economic growth,” reads the letter.

Internal trade

Holt also pointed out New Brunswick’s recent work to tear down barriers with the rest of Canada.

“Our government has introduced legislation to enable skilled professionals to work in New Brunswick from their day of arrival in the province, while regulators confirm their credentials,” Holt’s letter reads.

“We also have legislation to be passed soon that will remove restrictions on alcohol purchased outside of the province and will soon implement direct-to-consumer purchases so that New Brunswickers have greater choice in their purchases.”

Holt says she would like to work with the federal government to expand the scope of these agreements to cover all of Canada’s provinces and territories.

Health care

Access to primary care has been an ongoing issue in New Brunswick – something Holt says her government has been working to improve since she became premier last year.

The province has been working to establish a team-based health-care model where physicians, nurses, and other health professionals work together to address patient needs. This includes the recently established community collaborative clinics in Fredericton, Lameque and Tantramar

“I was pleased to see your commitment to healthcare infrastructure in your platform – by working with the federal government, we can move more quickly to expand access to community health teams to every corner of New Brunswick,” wrote Holt.

Canada’s military

Holt points out that Canadian Forces Base Gagetown is Canada’s largest military training area and provides space to support an expanded role in training soldiers for new challenges.

In her letter to Carney, Hold says she is ready to work with him to maximize opportunities to grow the capacity of CFB Gagetown as the federal government moves to renew and strengthen Canada’s armed forces.

Critical minerals

New Brunswick is home to 21 of the 34 rare earth metals and other resources the federal government deems critical, including untapped wealth in tungsten, molybdenum and more.

Holt say barriers must be removed to secure their development.

“We are developing a Critical Minerals Strategy to promote development of these resources, and a partnership with the federal government will be vital in realizing this opportunity,” she said.

“We are very supportive of the ‘one project, one review’ approach you have described, and trust that it will be applied in support of the provinces’ jurisdiction on mineral development.”

Immigration

The New Brunswick premier also explains the importance of immigration to the province.

Holt says it’s vital New Brunswick gets its fair share of immigrants under the Provincial Nominee Program and that it remains able to attract international students to its post-secondary institutions.

She says New Brunswick has also been a destination for French-speaking immigrants to Canada – some of whom have helped strengthen and revitalize its communities.

“We look forward to playing a key role in achieving your goal of expanding francophone immigration outside Quebec,” Holt said.

Housing

As the ongoing housing crisis continues in the Maritimes and throughout the country, Holt says in her letter to Carney that alleviating the crisis will require new and innovative approaches.

“Your government has committed to expanding the use of prefabricated homes and addressing housing shortages,” she said.

“New Brunswick has an established modular home industry with an experienced and skilled workforce, giving us the resources to assist in providing new homes to Canadians in every region of the country. We look forward to sharing this wealth of knowledge with the federal government.”

Holt ended her letter asking to meet with the prime minister at his earliest convenience to discuss these priorities and others.

She says she’s also directed her ministers to contact their colleagues in the federal cabinet, once they’ve been appointed, to discuss ways they can work together.

“While we face unprecedented uncertainty in a destabilized world, we can all be certain of this: Canada will rise to meet whatever challenges lay ahead. As Canadians, we are proud of who we are and remain hopeful for what we can become.”

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