Paige MacPherson is the Atlantic director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. (Submitted)
A citizens advocacy group has mixed views about New Brunswick’s latest budget released Tuesday.
The $10.2-billion budget includes a projected surplus of $92.4 million and a reduction to the net debt of $129.3 million.
Paige MacPherson, Atlantic director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said they are glad to see the province is continuing to pay down its debt.
“That’s a really good news budget for future generations of taxpayers because every time that the government puts money down toward paying down the debt, it lightens that weighty burden on future generations,” said MacPherson.
But MacPherson said they do have concerns about the fact government spending continues to increase.
She notes the government has little to no control over its revenues or outside factors which may affect it.
“Things like federal transfers, you know, the amount of money that we’re getting from Ottawa. That is not something that is guaranteed or that the New Brunswick government can accurately predict year after year,” she said.
The latest budget also includes a promise to cut the so-called double property tax in half by 2024.
MacPherson said it is a good move, but it does not go far enough.
“The double property taxation in New Brunswick is completely unfair. It’s something that we don’t see in many other places and it really does represent an unfair tax burden on New Brunswickers that should be eliminated,” she said.
MacPherson said they would like to have seen the government deliver “more dramatic” tax relief in general.
She notes New Brunswickers pay some of the highest taxes in the country, which does not help to attract business.
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