Image: Green Party
Green Party MLA Megan Mitton has a wish list for the province’s climate projects, and she believes plans should accompany the provincial budget that will be released this week.
It includes renewable energy sources like wind and solar options and an increase in energy efficiency to reduce emissions and lower heat costs.
However, with the current approach towards climate projects, Mitton says she is not holding her breath when it comes to her wants.
The Higgs government only recently released a list of the near $26 million it spent on climate projects over the past year. Funds are generated through New Brunswick’s carbon tax, but investments over the past year fell $10 million short of what was expected.
“I was very disappointed once again to see that money was left on the table,” says Mitton
Not only did she have concerns about the amount that was spent but also what it was spent on. The Memramcook-Tanramar MLA called the $5 million to small modular reactor technology an “irresponsible” investment.
Mitton voiced the issues that she believes members of her community face when stating that spending would have benefitted New Brunswickers better if it addressed some of the climate impacts low-income citizens face.
While she would like the upcoming fiscal year to bring more discussion for climate-directed initiatives, she said there is not a lot of hope.
