Conservative Leader Stephen Harper talks with reporters at a news conference in Fredericton, N.B., on Saturday. (The Canadian Press/Tom Hanson)The Conservative party's green plan is the best choice for New Brunswick's economy, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said over the weekend.

"Our policy towards all industries that are major emitters of greenhouse gas is to establish targets," Harper said at a press conference in Fredericton on Saturday. "We've worked with industry. Industry doesn't necessarily agree with the targets but we've worked with them to try to find targets that are realistic and achievable."

If the targets established in the Conservatives' green plan are not met, industry would have to pay into a technology fund to develop green technology.

"They're not paid into government to finance a bunch of spending promises," Harper said.

The Green Shift being proposed by the federal Liberals could jeopardize a proposed second Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, Harper said.

The Liberals' plan would tax greenhouse gas emissions while helping Irving buy environmentally friendly equipment, Leader Stéphane Dion said while he visited Saint John last week.

But some New Brunswick Liberals, including Energy Minister Jack Keir, have expressed concerns the federal party's $15-billion carbon-tax proposal would damage the province, where Irving Oil refineries, farming, fishing and forestry are all fuel-intensive economic drivers.

"It seems most Liberal cabinet ministers here in New Brunswick do not support a carbon tax for this province. That's understandable; it would destroy the economy of this province," Harper said.

Provincial Liberals declare support for federal platform

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and his wife Janine Krieber listen to a question during a campaign stop in Saint John, N.B., on Thursday. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)Premier Shawn Graham has publicly stated that he supports Dion and the federal Liberal's platform, which includes the Green Shift as a "component."

But a spokesperson at the premier's office said that if the Liberals are elected and the Green Shift becomes government policy that it would have to be balanced with the needs of New Brunswick's economy and debated.

Conservative campaign co-chair Bernard Lord, who is a former premier of the province, said the provincial Liberals are being ambiguous about their support of the environmental policies.

"Weak, uncertain," Lord said. "I'm surprised the premier would go out and campaign with someone who proposed a policy that would be so negative for the province of New Brunswick."

Officials at Irving have declined to comment on what the potential impact of each of the proposed plans could be for the refineries.