Recall The Legislature Early To Address COVID-19: Greens

The Green Party house leader is calling for the legislature to be recalled early amid rising COVID-19 cases.

The legislature is not expected to meet again until Nov. 2, but Kevin Arseneau wants it to happen “as soon as possible.”

Arseneau said there needs to be better accountability of the government’s response to the fourth wave of COVID-19.

“New Brunswick has had more COVID deaths and hospitalizations this month than in any previous month,” Arseneau said in a news release.

The Kent North MLA also pointed to the outbreaks in several nursing homes, and that contact tracing and testing are “overwhelmed.”

Arseneau said the speaker of the legislature has the ability to recall MLAs early “if it is in the public interest.”

“To provide for greater oversight of the government’s response to the fourth wave, the Speaker needs to call the Legislative Assembly back, with an option for MLAs to participate virtually, as soon as possible,” he said.

MLA Megan Mitton, the Green Party’s health critic, claims New Brunswick is being hit “harder than it otherwise would have” by the fourth wave due to the government’s “lack of action and planning.”

“The Higgs government was not prepared for any further outbreaks of COVID-19 after the province went to the green phase on July 30,” said Mitton.

“Now this tepid response has resulted in us not having the contract tracing or testing capacity to keep up with the rapid spread of the fourth wave.”

Arseneau said he has written a letter to speaker Bill Oliver with his request.