N.B. legislature to focus on 'transformative change'

The New Brunswick legislature opensTuesday amid a sense of nervousness about what the Liberal government is planning with its so-called "transformative change" agenda.

Premier Shawn Graham is heading into his second year in office with big plans to make the province self-sufficient and less reliant on federal handouts by 2026.

He also wants to increase the population by about 100,000 to roughly 830,000 people, despite the fact that some New Brunswickers are stillleaving for more prosperous jurisdictions.

The legislature opens Tuesday with a throne speech that will be closely read by those anxious for clues as to the government's intentions, especially in post-secondary education and health care.

"I think this government is making people nervous," said Don Desserud, a political science professor at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John.

"It's difficult to know whether Graham and his advisers have a clear idea of what they want to do, where they want to go and how they want to get there, as opposed to simply knowing they have to make some changes. They tend to fall back on mantra-type slogans like 'the status quo is not acceptable' without explaining what is problematic with the status quo."

Desserud may be more nervous than most since the institution where he works, the Saint John campus of the university, is the focus of one element of the transformative change process.

A report commissioned by the Graham government has recommended de-coupling the Saint John campus from the University of New Brunswick and forming a new polytechnic institution in the port city — a proposal that has caused a furor.

The changes would also affect the province's community college system and the francophone University of Moncton.

The commission recommendations are now the subject of yet another study by a working group appointed by the government.

Students ready to demonstrate

Hundreds of students are expected to demonstrate in Fredericton on Tuesday, sending a message of concern to the Graham government about a possible post-secondary shakeup.

As well, social action groups demonstrated at the legislature on Monday, presenting their version of a throne speech that pays attention to the needs of the poor in a province burdened with rising tax rates and soaring electricity costs.

"You can't talk about self-sufficiency when you have thousands of people going to food banks, living in shelters and living below the poverty line," said Dan Weston of the Fredericton Anti-Poverty Organization.

For their part, Graham and his cabinet ministers are promising a busy session, with roughly 20 pieces of legislation to be considered before the Christmas break in December.

Liberal house leader Mike Murphy told reporters the legislative agenda will mark the beginning of the Liberal era.

He said the last session largely involved tying up loose ends from the previous Conservative government, defeated in 2006 after seven years in office.

"This is our opportunity now," Murphy said. "We have finished many of the projects of the former government and our agenda is now going up."

Initiatives will include a break on rising property taxes for people of modest means; a feasibility study for a natural gas pipeline to the province's north; a new health plan; whistle-blower legislation; and an ignition interlock program to curb drunk driving.