New Brunswick's Finance Department may create 50 new jobs in the Madawaska-les-Lacs riding of Finance Minister Jeannot Volpé, Premier Bernard Lord says.

Lord said the jobs would be newly created positions, rather than existing jobs relocated from Fredericton.

"This is related to some of the jobs related to the HST rebate program that we're putting in place, and the tuition rebate program we're putting in place as well," the premier said.

The Liberal candidate who will run against Volpé in the next election supports the plan, but says it was her idea in the first place.

Helene Albert says the government is considering the job creation initiative because an election could be called soon.