Greens say they'd run short-term deficits to address health 'crisis'
David Coon releases campaign platform with uncosted commitments
New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon is facing new scrutiny over his election commitments, particularly his inability to put a price tag on some of them and his willingness to run what he calls "short-term" budget deficits.
Coon released the full Green platform Wednesday for the Oct. 21 election, a 45-page document that includes no costing.
But an estimate provided by the party, filed with Elections New Brunswick, shows the party's promises would add $2.9 to $4 billion to the province's bottom line over five years.
Coon told reporters he is willing to run budget deficits in order to keep his spending commitments on health care — including an estimated $260 million a year for the recruitment, retention and training of health-care workers.
But he said a Green government would adopt a debt management plan to avoid creating a long-term fiscal crunch.
"We will not add billions to the debt," Coon said.
"People don't need to worry. The debt will be managed. But we're in a crisis when it comes to health care, so we are, if needed, willing to go into deficit in the short term to save our health-care system."
Asked for a definition of the short term, Coon answered that it was "hard to say" but deficits could "potentially" last for two years.
He also said it was "impossible to say" what the deficits would be.
The Greens' costing of their election promises is getting more attention because the party could hold the balance of power in the legislature if no party wins a majority on Oct. 21.
Coon repeated his vow that the Greens would "absolutely not" vote to keep the Progressive Conservatives in power as long as Blaine Higgs remains leader.
But his willingness to run deficits may put him at odds with his only other potential partner, the Liberals, who have vowed to maintain balanced budgets.
"The unrealistic promises the Greens have made so far total almost $4 billion, and that's with many still to be costed," the Liberal campaign said in a statement.
"A Holt government will make targeted, strategic investments in healthcare and affordability that will stick within our means while giving New Brunswickers access to care and putting more money back in their pockets."
Coon said Wednesday a Green government might be forced to put aside some promises but that the health-care commitments are its priority.
But he wouldn't specify which elements of the platform he'd give up if he has to negotiate with the Liberals.
"We will work to get our commitments in the platform implemented whether we're in government or not."
Many of the Green promises, like a commitment to launch a new passenger rail service in the province, have no cost attached in the party's Elections New Brunswick filing.
Coon says the provincial cost would depend on negotiations with the federal government, Via Rail and CN, and would be covered by revenue from a new cap-and-trade carbon pricing system on industry.
He couldn't say, however, exactly how much that system would bring in, estimating it at between $100 million and $200 million.
The questions over the Green platform make the party the third to present questionable fiscal claims during the campaign.
PC Leader Blaine Higgs has promised to cut the harmonized sales tax by two points, to 13 per cent, a revenue loss of $450 million, without specifying how he'd maintain a balanced budget.
Higgs has said a combination of economic growth and prudent management would let him avoid deficits.
Liberal Leader Susan Holt, meanwhile, released numbers that add that $450 million she would not give up to existing government revenue projections that were already based on a 15-per-cent HST — in effect counting that money twice.
The Liberals have argued that if Higgs believes he can afford an HST cut, his government's long-term revenue projections must be low — so they have fiscal wiggle room as well.
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