Social Development Minister Mary Schryer has backtracked on a controversial election plank to raise social assistance rates to the Atlantic average.

Schryer told reporters Thursday afternoon that the promise to raise social assistance rates is now a goal that might before the election in 2010.

"That's our goal. We would like to get there. I can't say 100 per cent we're going to be there," she said. "We have a goal that we're striving for, that we want to obtain."

That followed some mixed messages earlier in the week between her and Premier Shawn Graham.

Schryer said a poverty consultation process now underway within her department may come up with recommendations that indicate government money would be better spent targeting specific groups of low-income people, rather than raising social assistance rates for all of them.

Controversy started after CBC interviews

The controversy was ignited earlier this week when CBC News reported that Graham admitted that "better information" led him to change his opinion on the campaign promise. But Schryer later said the Liberals are still committed to the idea.

Earlier on Thursday, the two had seemed to perpetuate their divergent opinions.

Schryer said the department was still committed to the promise, while Graham said there may be other ways to help poor people.

"So, Mr. Speaker, when the facts are presented to you that you can do better with taxpayers' dollars to help improve the lives of New Brunswickers, Mr. Speaker, that's what our government did," Graham said.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives pounced on the rhetorical daylight that separated the premier and his social development minister in question period.

"Talk is really cheap. What we have is a disconnection between two people on the front benches of the Liberal government," Tory Leader David Alward said.

"It is pretty obvious that we have two different messages in this government. Will the premier do the right thing and live up to his commitment from the last election, in 2006, to increase social assistance rates to the Atlantic average?"