N.B. election: Tory leader promises to help synagogues, churches increase security
“In an ever-changing world, we are increasingly aware of the need to ensure that our public spaces, including places of worship and community gatherings, are secure and protected,” he told reporters in Fredericton.
New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs is pledging to provide more funding for security measures to synagogues, mosques, churches, and community organizations, including the installation of surveillance cameras.
As the provincial election campaign enters its final two weeks, Higgs, who is seeking a third term as premier, stated that if re-elected, his party will adopt increasingly stringent policies on crime.
“In an ever-changing world, we are increasingly aware of the need to ensure that our public spaces, including places of worship and community gatherings, are secure and protected,” he told reporters in Fredericton.
He emphasized that there are "growing concerns about safety" for religious institutions, explaining, “That’s why today we are taking action.”
Higgs mentioned that a re-elected Conservative government would revise the terms of the Community Investment Fund to enable non-profits to apply for funding for security measures such as surveillance cameras and stronger locks on their doors. This fund allocates $70,000 annually to each legislative assembly member to support community projects and priorities.
As part of the Tories' tough-on-crime approach, they plan to reject all new applications for supervised drug-injection sites and propose legislation to compel individuals with severe drug addictions to enter treatment.
In the meantime, the Liberal and Green parties were set to make health care announcements on Monday. Liberal Leader Susan Holt planned an event in Saint John, N.B., followed by lunch at the local market. Green Party Leader David Coon was scheduled to hold a news conference regarding “local health-care decision-making” alongside deputy leader Megan Mitton in her Sackville, N.B., riding.
A Mainstreet Research poll released on Friday indicated that the Liberals have 36 percent support, leading the Tories at 32 percent, with 18 percent of respondents still undecided. The Green Party garnered 11 percent, while the People’s Alliance party trailed with just one percent.
The Mainstreet poll was based on an automated telephone survey of 906 adults conducted from October 1 to October 3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence level.
The election is scheduled for October 21.
