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From Roger Duguay, leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party:

Tuesday's budget from the Graham government provided a few good points, but missed the mark in far too many areas.

While it was important to see a tuition freeze, as recommended in the NDP's 2006 platform, students need long term solutions to ease their debt situation.

More care hours in nursing homes and more social workers were both welcomed by the NDP, but again these measures show the government continues to play catch up and can't seem to move quick enough in either of these areas.

Among the disappointments was the revelation that NB Power would be showing a profit of $85 million dollars, while power users in the province have been hit with a double whammy of two rate increases.

How can this government say they are helping small business people, when last year they raised the small business tax, and this budget will have private woodlot owners paying more for the cost of silvacuture. It is utterly ridiculous that the environment department budget is being cut at a time when so many important industrial projects have started or are on the drawing board.

And then to add insult to injury, money from the Environmental Trust Fund will be diverted to the department to help make up for budget cuts.

While the province pushes full steam ahead with its energy and big business agenda, I fear that the quality of life of your average New Brunswicker will not improve over the next year, it will only get worse.

From New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners president Andrew Clark:

The government made two budget announcements regarding the provincial private woodlot silviculture program which in combination essentially eliminate this program. The first indicated the budget would be cut in half from $8 million to $4 million. The second part of the announcement however, in practice will mean woodlot owners will not be able to access any of the reduced budget.

The second part of the announcement stipulates the cost sharing arrangement between the province and woodlot owners. Historically the cost of silviculture treatments was split 80-20 between the province and the woodlot owner. The new format will see this cost sharing change to a 50-50 split.

How can government expect woodlot owners who cannot sell their forest products to start contributing more money to silviculture? The appropriate move would have been to add money to the budget and improve the cost sharing to 90-10 using federal trust fund money that was announced recently.

We are mystified by this action when we believed that Premier Graham was committed to stable long-term silviculture funding. The silviculture budget has not been this low since 1997 when only 6,800 hectares were treated. Last year with $8 million over 12,000 hectares were treated. This directly contributes to the sustainability and future of the forest industry in New Brunswick and creates much needed employment in rural communities.

What message about the future of the forest industry and the future of woodlot owners does this give? Is the government saying they have completely given up on the forest industry? The Premier should consider this an urgent request for a meeting to discuss how woodlot owners fit in a self-sufficient New Brunswick. It is a question that needs answering.