Some random thoughts on the Higgs gov't going into 2021

As the sun sets on what many of us look upon as the year from hell, we are about to enter a brand new one. On the verge of that, some random thoughts on the agenda, opportunities and challenges facing Premier Higgs and his government. And a couple of files I will be especially watching, hoping he lives up to his promise.  

While most of us curse Covid-19, Premier Higgs has it to thank for the fact he is going into the New Year with a fairly secure majority, rather than hanging on by his fingernails, as probably would have been the case if Covid hadn’t struck.  

But because he handled it well he was rewarded. Fair enough.  

But where from here? 

So far I think Higgs has made mainly the right moves, with some glaring exceptions, but mainly solid intentions such as promising serious health care reform and promising tough but very needed municipal reform. Neither will be easy. He does have a majority and without one he probably wouldn’t even try, but while he has one, does he also have the toughness necessary to drag us kicking and screaming into a better place, as that is what it will take especially with municipal reform. For fairness to financially struggling municipalities and for economic growth in rural New Brunswick, reform is necessary so I hope so. But we can already hear the chorus of those outside municipalities who will not see past increased taxes. Is that them buying up torches and pitchforks?   

Staff shortages and low pay continue to be issues at N.B. nursing homes

As if those challenges weren’t enough, he’s facing huge battles on the labour front with some major unions looking for new contracts. He has strongly hinted they shouldn’t expect much, but while many voters may applaud the tough line with civil servants with a wage freeze, there are related issues such as a serious shortage of nurses that promises to become a critical shortage within a very few years. It will take more creative bargaining that just being tough, to deal with that. There’s a similar problem of staffing our nursing homes, a shortcoming Covid laid bare for all to see, and that too will require attention, so residents get the care they need and deserve, which means pay that better reflects the value of what nursing home employees do so more of them will take those jobs.  

Other major challenges include affordable housing and the related issue of homelessness. There has been very little so far to suggest that Premier Higgs puts much of a priority on such social issues. I may be judging him unfairly on that and I hope I am, but his laser-like focus on righting our financial ship may have relegated all other issues to the background. But as University of Moncton economist Richard Saillant wrote in an op-ed a couple of months back, and I’m paraphrasing here because I forget the exact quote but I’m sure I am capturing the gist – our economic future depends on increased immigration, and without affordable housing we cannot attract immigrants. So he’s showing right there, affordable housing isn’t just about social decency; it’s also about our economic future. So fixing it should be one of Higgs’ priorities, in cooperation with federal and municipal governments.  

Forestry in N.B. Photo Credit: CBC

I have said before that I don’t buy the belief held by many that Higgs is in Irving’s pocket, a belief that seems to be based solely on the fact he used to be an Irving Oil executive. No question we have a long history in this province of successive governments bowing to Irving’s wishes on anything that affected any of their companies, whether tax policy, environmental regulations, whatever. To me, the test on whether Premier Higgs will cave like so many of his predecessors is how forestry policy will change. He has promised reform that will give private woodlot owners a fairer shake when it comes to the imbalance between them and the major forestry companies, including of course JDI. Successive changes over the past few decades worsened the imbalance because of policies on Crown land allocation, policies that not only hurt private woodlot owners but taxpayers in general. The Higgs government promised reform in this area before its first election. The jury remains out on that, so we’ll see. And yes, it is true that JDI is completely divorced from Irving Oil where Higgs worked, but it’s still a valid test of who’s will, will prevail.  

I am out of space but still haven’t gotten to what I see as possibly Higgs’ worst mistake so far. I’ll save that for Part Two, but here’s a hint – it has to do with First Nations.

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Cover photo credit: Vincent Etter, Unsplash