We chose both of them, they need to work it out
Justin Trudeau’s visit to New Brunswick last week grabbed headlines because he spoke in defense of the rights of certain New Brunswickers, which is what happens with many of his visits. But the more interesting comments were some he made about New Brunswick’s resistance to new federal programs.
In an interview, Trudeau expressed frustration at the “almost ideological” resistance to new programs, pointing specifically to the New Brunswick government.
For all New Brunswickers desperate for climate action and for access to housing, affordable child care, pharmacare, dental care, reproductive health care, I say amen.
Trudeau added that New Brunswickers shouldn’t be paying a price for the fact that they elected, provincially, a conservative government, and, federally, a “very liberal” government. This was the people’s choice and they should not suffer their governments not working well together.
New Brunswick government’s resistance – initial or ongoing – to offered help in housing, child care, pharmacare, dental care, climate action – is hard to understand otherwise, given the level of need in the population and our ever increasing vulnerability to climate change.
Trudeau also spoke about the rights of New Brunswick women, which is not done much around here these days, by anyone, including women, women’s groups, and certainly not by politicians. Trudeau deplored New Brunswick’s refusal to allow abortions outside a hospital setting, which results in reduced access and higher costs for health care budgets.
There was one issue that Trudeau and Higgs agreed on in the past that may no longer be true: Trudeau’s appointment of unilingual Brenda Murphy as Lieutenant-Governor. Less than a year ago, both the federal and provincial governments were arguing in the provincial Court of Appeals against a Court of Queen’s Bench decision that appointees to the position of Lieutenant Governor should be bilingual.
But last week, Trudeau said Lieutenant Governors should be a unifying force and that hadn’t been the case here. It was a “lesson learned”, and he regrets that it was a divisive appointment. He would not say whether he would replace her before the end of his mandate.
It has been said Higgs and Trudeau are like oil and water. Maybe so, at a personal level. But this is not an episode of The Bachelor. If Blaine Higgs doesn’t like the cut of Trudeau’s jib, that is irrelevant. If Trudeau disagrees with Higgs’ politics, that is also too bad. They each wanted their jobs, and their job is to look out for all New Brunswickers. They need to get along. Think oil and vinegar, which don’t mix any better but can blend temporarily when shaken, and enhance what you’re serving.
What New Brunswick needs is old-fashioned, collaborative, evidence-based problem solving and less reading from some ideological holy book.
Mon doux 
excellent . J’aime bien la métaphore de la vinaigrette