N.B. news: PCs accuse government of ditching key election pledge [Video]

New Brunswick’s official Opposition leader is accusing the governing Liberals of trying to find “a way out” of a key election pledge to remove the carbon adjuster cost on fuel prices.

The government introduced legislation on Nov. 20, signalling its intent to remove the cost (about four cents per litre) by the end of 2024.

Instead, the bill’s second reading is now on hold with the legislation being sent to the legislature’s law amendments committee for review.

While carbon fuel regulations are enforced by the federal government, the former Progressive Conservative government under Blaine Higgs changed legislation in December 2022 to pass the extra cost to consumers. The former PC government said small family-owned gas stations were at risk of closing without the legislation.

The Liberals often referred to the cost as “the Higgs tax” during this fall’s election campaign, pledging to remove it within the first 100 days of a Susan Holt mandate.

Energy Minister René Legacy said the government’s …