PC tax promises criticized as too costly

The Progressive Conservative party's tax promises came under scrutiny on Wednesday as both the Liberals and NDP allege the commitments cost more than David Alward admits.

The Liberals took specific aim at Alward's pledge to permanently freeze seniors property assessments.

"We're talking about a very large group of people and it's only getting larger," Liberal Greg Byrne said, who was the province's finance minister when the election was called.

"If you freeze assessments for all those over 65 it could cost all other New Brunswickers upwards of $1 billion in lost tax revenue over a 10-year period. That places the burden directly on the backs of young professionals, small businesses, renters and families. Is that fairness?"

Rising property tax assessments have been a contentious issue for several years across the province.

The Liberals have told voters they will freeze assessments temporarily to offer some relief to homeowners.

'Under David Alward's plan, lower and middle-class working families will be left holding the bag for a tax break that doesn't even necessarily meet the needs of seniors who need it most.' Liberal Greg Byrne

Jean-Guy Finn, the former commissioner of local governance, wrote in a CBC News analysis on Thursday that the next New Brunswick government must address local governance.

Finn argues that comprehensive local governance reform is needed and tinkering with different aspects, such as taxation, is not enough.

The Liberals say the Tory plan would hurt municipalities because property tax revenue is their primary way of collecting revenue.

By freezing property tax assessments for seniors, Byrne said, it will force taxes higher on non-seniors.

"Under David Alward's plan, lower and middle-class working families will be left holding the bag for a tax break that doesn't even necessarily meet the needs of seniors who need it most," Byrne said in a statement.

More deficit

The New Democratic Party also called into question the tax plans of the Tories and the Liberals.

Tony Myatt, the party's finance critic, said each of the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals promises would add almost $400 million to the deficit.

"The tax cuts proposed by Mr. Alward and[Liberal Leader Shawn]Graham would make it impossible for New Brunswick to maintain existing core services like health care and education," Myatt said in a statement.

Myatt's analysis shows that Alward's tax promises would cost $235 million, on top of the $141 million in spending that the Tories have admitted.

The NDP's finance critic alleges he Liberal platform would cost $388 million, $293 million from tax cuts and $95 million from spending.

NDP Leader Roger Duguay has spent the entire election campaign arguing that the Tories and Liberals have been making unrealistic spending promises.