New Brunswick’s Opposition Liberal leader says the government completely missed the mark with its latest budget.
Susan Holt said the health-care increase is not enough when the system needs a complete overhaul.
“The dollars associated aren’t really appropriate to the need,” Holt said in response to Tuesday’s budget.
The government plans to spend a record $3.8 billion on health care this year, an increase of $214 million compared to the 2023-24 budget.
However, year-end expenses for the current fiscal year are projected to come in around $212 million over budget.
About $23 million will fund technological initiatives aimed at improving access to health-care services, the government said.
That includes $2 million to modernize the electronic medical records that are in use at community health centres.
“When you’re talking about $2 million to do electronic medical records across all of the old health centres that need modernizing, that budget doesn’t meet the problem that you say you’re trying to solve,” said Holt.
In general, the Liberal leader said the budget did nothing to help make life more affordable for New Brunswick.
However, she said she was happy to see funds to expand heat pump programs and the breast cancer screening program.
