Gallant reversal on fee could benefit federal Liberals, prof says

A political science professor says the timing of the Gallant government's nursing-home fees reversal could be a political play during the federal election.

The controversial policy would have hiked the rates seniors pay to stay in nursing homes.

Before the Gallant government even implemented its nursing-home fees policy, it decided to scrap it all together.

"We will not move forward with it. It will be cancelled and we will press reset," Gallant said Wednesday.

The premier says he's taking the controversial policy off the table now to relieve the fear and anxiety it caused seniors.

Tom Bateman, a political science professor at St. Thomas University,says the timing of the announcement could also have something to do with the ongoing federal election.

"The federal Liberals have a chance to pick up some seats in New Brunswick. And I think with the seniors file out of the way, the federal Liberals probably have a better chance than they would otherwise," he said.

The Harper Conservatives used Gallant's changes to nursing home fees as political fodder in an attack ad against Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

The reversal to the policy comes a day after Trudeau made a campaign stop in New Brunswick.

His party needs to make some big gains in the province in the upcoming election. It won a single seat last time.