N.B. Liberals cut gas tax on first day in power
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 | 5:59 PM AT
CBC News
Premier Shawn Graham and his new cabinet lowered the provincial gas tax by 3.8 cents litre in their first meeting after being sworn into office Tuesday morning in a ceremony at the legislature.
"This reduction not only puts money back in the pockets of New Brunswickers, it also means that New Brunswick's gasoline tax rate is the lowest in the Maritimes, and the second lowest in Canada after Alberta," the Liberal premier said in a news release.
"We will ensure that New Brunswick's provincial gasoline tax remains the lowest east of Alberta throughout our mandate."
Premier Shawn Graham and his Liberal cabinet were sworn in as the new government Tuesday morning in Fredericton.
CBC
The gas tax reduction was one of a number of issues the Graham government tackled on its first day in power.
"On Sept. 18, when the people of New Brunswick entrusted us with this mandate, I made a number of very clear commitments that would be addressed on our first day in office," Graham said. "I am pleased that today we have fulfilled those commitments."
Help for university students
The ministers also approved the creation of $2,000 grants to first-year university students and agreed to remove seniors' homes, assets and life savings from the formula to calculate nursing home fees.
At the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday morning, Graham appointed Victor Boudreau as finance minister and T.J. Burke was named minister of justice and attorney general, the first aboriginal member of a New Brunswick cabinet.
There are five Saint John-area MLAs in the cabinet: Jack Keir, Roly MacIntyre, Stuart Jamieson, Ed Doherty and Mary Schryer.
The new Liberal cabinet is:
Premier: Shawn Graham
Finance and local government: Victor Boudreau
Attorney general and justice: T.J. Burke
Health: Michael Murphy
Education: Kelly Lamrock
Energy: Jack Keir
Fisheries: Rick Doucet
Business New Brunswick: Greg Byrne
Environment: Roland Haché
Natural resources: Donald Arseneault
Family and community services and status of women: Carmel Robichaud
Transportation: Denis Landry
Supply and services: Roly MacIntyre
Tourism and house leader: Stuart Jamieson
Public safety and solicitor general: John Foran
Agriculture and aquaculture: Ronald Ouellette
Human resources: Hédard Albert
Labour, post-secondary education and aboriginal affairs: Ed Doherty
Seniors and housing: Mary Schryer
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