Transportation

After power plants, transportation is the next largest contributor to climate-changing pollution. To meet our climate change targets, we need to completely reimagine how we move around, within communities and between them. 

Besides reducing pollution and relieving congestion, access to affordable, convenient public transit is essential to reducing poverty and isolation, and increasing equity among citizens. Yet, New Brunswick is the only province that doesn’t subsidize city transit systems. New Brunswick also doesn’t have a proper public transportation system between communities. The most shocking abuse of New Brunswickers’ right to mobility is the refusal of both Liberal and Conservative governments to provide Campobello with a direct connection to Canadian mainland. Unlike Grand Manan, White Head and Deer Island, Campobello has been stranded and abandoned.

A Green government would:

  • Immediately accept the federal government’s offer of funds to support the development of public transit and transportation systems.
  • Subsidize the operation of municipal transit systems with money from the carbon fee.
  • Provide a convenient, affordable public transportation system for regions not currently served by private busses.
  • Develop a plan for commuter trains in the Fredericton-Saint John-Moncton triangle, and for a rail system linking northern NB with the triangle.
  • Provide residents of Campobello Island with a year-round ferry to the New Brunswick mainland.
  • Protect the system of river ferries in the Wolastoq River system as vital transportation links.
  • Fund walking and biking trails and lanes in communities and provide safe cycling training for elementary school children.

The transition to electric and hybrid vehicles is going far too slowly. It needs government intervention. Road safety is also an issue, especially in rural areas where local roads are being neglected causing dangerous driving conditions.

A Green government would:

  • Create an electric vehicle (EV) incentive program to replace 20,000 gasoline vehicles with EVs by 2030. 
  • Quickly transition the government vehicle fleet to EVs, including school buses. 
  • Increase funding for brush-cutting, mowing, snow plowing, and line painting to ensure safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.