New Brunswick election: Party leaders hit the campaign trail – New Brunswick [Video]

The Green Party in New Brunswick is promising to end “deep poverty” by providing a guaranteed income to impoverished residents if elected to govern the province on Oct. 21.

Leader David Coon said Monday the ambitious program would be introduced within the first four years of his party’s mandate.

“The social assistance system keeps people trapped in poverty, holding them back and keeping our province from reaching its potential,” Coon said in a statement. “It’s time to try something new.”

But it remains unclear how much such a commitment would cost. The statement did not provide details.

According to the Green Party’s platform, the program would require funding from the federal government. As well, the document says it “would take some time to design properly,” which means the funding wouldn’t be available until 2028-29 at the earliest.

In the meantime, a Green government would raise social assistance rates by 20 …