Parties commit to new spending on teacher recruitment, bridge replacement

Liberals promised new spending on teacher recruitment on the 10th day of the provincial election campaign Saturday, while the Green Party committed to a new bridge and measures against coastal erosion.

Both Liberal Leader SusanHolt and Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs were in Moncton a region that couldbe key to either party forming government.

While the boundaries have been adjustedsince the 2020 election,severalMoncton-area ridings historicallyflip between blue and red.

No PC platform commitments

Higgsmade no new announcements. He and Moncton Southwest candidate Sherry Wilson rappelled down theAssumption Place building foraCommunity of Hope charity event.

Liberals pledge $500,000 to teacher recruitment

Holt says if elected she would put $500,000 toward what she called a "special SWAT recruitment team" tasked with filling teaching vacancies.

She noted the school year began with vacancies across the provinceand a heavy reliance on local permit staff,who are hired despite not having a teaching degree, and in some cases no degree at all.

"That's concerningfor parents who are sending their students to school, expecting them to get a great education by qualified and certified teachers," Holt said.

"Things are getting worse, and getting worse fast."

Holt also promised better access to financial aid for those wanting to study education.

She said a Liberal government would maintain the Grade 1 entry into French Immersion and"expand entry points" for Grade 6 students.

The party also wants to createa 10-year plan for the education system, in consultationwith education staff, experts and parents.

Bridge replacement, coastal erosion on Green agenda

On Saturday in Lamque, Green Party Leader David Coon said he would commit to replacing the Lamque-Shippaganbridgethe sole link between LamqueIsland and MiscouIsland to the rest of the Acadian Peninsula.

The 1950s-era bridge has seen full and partial closures due to repairs or storms.

Higgs said on the campaign trail in 2020 that the bridge would have to be replaced "at some point in the next few years," but after securing a majority in that election theProgressive Conservativesdid not put forward a plan or funds to do so.

Coon estimates the bridge would cost about $80 million, but he believes the federal government would take on at least half of that.

He says the cost estimates are based partly on the Anderson Bridge, a project he believes has a similar scope, in Miramichi.

Coon would aim to have that project completed in four years.

A Green government would also establish a coastal protection office, Coon said, noting some communities in the Acadian Peninsula are "in extreme danger" of flooding.

"About 50 metreshas been chewed away since the end of the Second World War," he said. "And literally people have moved, had to move as a result of that."

He said that office would be achieved by reallocating existing government staff.

The election is on Oct. 21.

Standings at dissolution: PCs 25, Liberals 16, Greens 3, Independent 1, vacant 4

Where the leaders are today

There are no campaign events scheduled for today.

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