FREDERICTON – Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton-South, David Coon, tabled a motion today that urges the government to commit to sourcing 10% of goods and services for the upcoming fiscal year locally in New Brunswick.

“Many of our small and medium-sized businesses are now in survival mode in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdown.  The self-employed are seeing their livelihoods evaporate, while laid-off workers from export-oriented industries may lose their jobs altogether. The government must use its massive purchasing power to buy goods and services produced right here in New Brunswick, instead of importing them,” said Coon. “Money leaves the province with every imported good and service. By replacing imports with New Brunswick products and services, we will keep the money circulating in the province, creating wealth in our communities.”

A 2018 study by Université de Moncton economist Pierre-Marcel Desjardins found that just a 5 percent increase in New Brunswickers buying local products would result in over 9000 jobs, add $881 million to New Brunswick’s GDP, and generate $1.14 billion in revenue for the provincial government and $2 billion in additional sales annually after five years.

“If we want to encourage New Brunswickers to support their local economy, government needs to lead by example,” said Coon. “When we support businesses in our communities, our money goes directly towards supporting our neighbours, families, and the local tax base.  It’s fundamental to strengthening our local economies.”

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