Roger Melanson may cut highest tax brackets

Finance Minister Roger Melanson said the provincial government will re-evaluate its tax rates for the province's highest earners once it's clear how much the new federal government will raise taxes for the wealthiest one per cent.

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Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau has promised to give breaks to the middle class but raise taxes on the country's wealthiest citizens.

That could pushthe combined income tax rate for the wealthiest New Brunswickerswell above 50 per cent.

"I want to understand what would be the impact on our province," Melanson said.

"But I also want to say today that we are open to making an adjustment if we need, to see that we are competitive and we have more people coming to our province and more people investing in our province."

Melanson said he hopes to meet with the federal finance minister once that person is appointed and then a decision will be made on the future of the provincial levels.

"If there's a need to adjust we're open to that," he said.

"What's important is that we stay competitive and attract investment in our province. I think it's important that we see New Brunswickers staying in New Brunswick, moving to New Brusnwick ... we want to be competitive," he said.

Trudeau's electoraltacticpromise to raise taxes on the highest income earners, run deficits and invest in infrastructure is the same strategy that saw Brian Gallant's Liberals win in 2014.

During the 2014 election campaign, the Liberals proposed creating two new tax brackets, one at 21 per cent for people making more than $150,000 and one at 25.75 per cent for those making more than $250,000.

Those changes were adopted in the March provincial budget.