Brewer pledges NDP would legislate pay equity

NB Telegraph-Journal News - As published on page A2 on August 24, 2006

NDP would legislate pay equity

Brewer pledges to reintroduce bill

By Derwin GowanTelegraph-Journal

Allison Brewer would re-introduce Elizabeth Weir's bill mandating pay equity in both public and private sectors."I will," the New Brunswick New Democratic Party leader asserted in a telephone interview on Wednesday.Weir, Brewer's predecessor as NDP leader, introduced Bill 77, the Pay Equity Act, in 2004. Brewer said 11 male Progressive Conservative members of the Legislative Assembly's Law Amendments Committee recommended against proceeding. "It is a really big issue . . . it affects families throughout the province," Brewer said."It's not a woman's issue, it's an issue that affects working families all over the province," she said.Brewer said in a speech in Moncton on Wednesday afternoon that Progressive Conservative and Liberal MLAs "voted against economic equality for working people in New Brunswick" by shelving pay equity."In spite of the hard work of organizations like the New Brunswick Federation of Labour, the Pay Equity Coalition and women and men across the province, the right to receive equal pay for work of equal value in New Brunswick is denied," she said.She said that a study by the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women projected that pay equity would bring New Brunswick about $105 million in additional personal income tax revenue, and save about $19 million in transfer payments to individuals.Brewer said the Progressive Conservatives would wait until 2010 to introduce pay equity throughout the public service, and that the Liberals said in May they would "work slowly, ever so slowly" toward to reduce the wage gap in the public service, but not in the private sector.


The Canadian PressAtlantic News, Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 16:1 New Brunswick election campaign focuses on health, tourism, pay equityKevin BissettThe Canadian Press

FREDERICTON (CP) - New Brunswick's Conservative premier is vowing to do more to address the needs of people with diabetes and increase prevention through a wellness promotion strategy.

Bernard Lord used a campaign stop in Fredericton on Wednesday to announce a $6.1-million diabetes reduction strategy.

"The strategy will enhance care for New Brunswick who have diabetes, create more resources and help prevent the onset of this disease in other New Brunswickers," Lord said.
About 40,000 people in the province have diabetes and health officials say up to 40,000 more could later be diagnosed with it.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition where the body is unable to produce insulin and properly break down glucose in the blood.

The Conservative plan includes screening and a campaign to raise awareness of the disease. There will also be subsidies for low-income New Brunswickers to help with the high cost of diabetes testing and insulin.

"Building on the pilot project that we have currently in Saint John, people with diabetes will have access to subsidized supplies throughout the province based on their individual financial needs," said Lord.

Jake Reid, regional director for the Canadian Diabetes Association, said the average out-of-pocket cost for most people with diabetes is about $3,600 per year.
Cole Poirier, an eight-year-old diabetic from Lincoln, N.B., helped test the premier's blood during the announcement. The result was normal.
Meantime, the Liberal campaign bus rolled through northeast New Brunswick Wednesday.
Leader Shawn Graham said a Liberal government would retain Miramichi Hospital as a regional hospital.

"Over the past few years, people in the Miramichi have expressed their anxiety to me about the long-term status of their hospital," said Graham.

He told reporters the hospital is an important part of economic development in the area.
"In the Miramichi region we know that, with a large industrial base such as the pulp and paper industry, there needs to be a commitment to have certain health-care services there to grow the economy," said Graham.

Health Minister Brad Green was quick to react to Graham's statement, saying there are no plans or discussions about changing the regional status of the Miramichi Hospital.
"The only people talking about this are Shawn Graham and the Liberal party," said Green.

"The premier and I have both stated clearly that the regional status of the Miramichi Hospital is secure. In fact, we are working to expand the level of services being offered in the Miramichi," he said.

"For example, we are planning an expansion of the kidney dialysis unit in the community."
The Liberal campaign also included a stop at Le Village Historique Acadien in Caraquet to promise an increase in funding for tourism promotion.

Graham said he'd boost the annual tourism marketing budget by $3 million per year.
"This new investment will be able to position our province as a destination for American and Quebec tourists," he said.

New Democrat Leader Allison Brewer ventured outside of her Fredericton area riding to make a speech in Moncton on pay equity.
If elected, she said her party would enact pay equity legislation for both the public and private sectors.

"The Liberals and Conservatives are ignoring the rights of young people and women," said Brewer.

The Lord government has promised to have pay equity brought in for the entire public sector by 2010, but has shied away from including the private sector.

site des Nouvelles et actualités de Radio Canada
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Mise à jour le jeudi 24 août 2006, 9 h 57 .

Allison Brewer

Les néo-démocrates ont décidé de miser sur un de leur meilleur cheval de bataille: l'équité salariale. « Le NPD entend légiférer de façon proactive en matière d'équité salariale dans les secteurs publics et privés », a déclaré la chef du parti, Allison Brewer, mercredi, à Moncton.
Ce sujet concerne tout le monde, a indiqué Mme Brewer. Selon elle, ni les progressistes-conservateurs ni les libéraux ne souhaitent s'attaquer à l'équité salariale. Pourtant, le problème est tellement criant qu'il faudrait une loi pour le régler, soutient-elle.
Cette déclaration sonne comme de la musique aux oreilles des membres de la coalition pour l'équité salariale du Nouveau-Brunswick. « Ce qu'on espère, c'est qu'on aura aussi les autres chefs de parti qui se prononceront pour avoir une loi qui couvrira les secteurs publics et privés », a affirmé Johanne Perron, coordonnatrice de cette coalition.
Le NPD dispose pour l'instant d'une équipe incomplète. Le parti ne compte des candidats que dans la moitié des circonscriptions. Le bureau du parti promet toutefois que la liste sera complétée avant la semaine prochaine. Quant au programme électoral du parti, il devrait être prêt d'ici une dizaine de jours.
Allison Brewer participera au débat
Allison Brewer a finalement décidé de participer au débat télévisé en français. Son parti a promis qu'elle allait mettre les bouchées doubles pour se perfectionner en français et être à la hauteur le prochain.
Mme Brewer estime que le séjour de deux semaines qu'elle a effectué au Québec plus tôt cet été va lui permettre de tirer son épingle du jeu durant le débat télévisé. « Je peux parler un petit peu en français », a-t-elle indiqué.
Le débat des chefs sera diffusé le 7 septembre.
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Johanne Perron Coordonnatrice/CoordinatorCoalition pour l'équité salarialeCoalition for Pay Equity154, rue Queen StreetMoncton (N.-B.) E1C 1K8Tél./Tél.: (506) 855-0002Téléc./Fax: (506) 854-9728www.equite-equity.com