Opposition parties concerned after oversight committee days cut in half

Progressive Conservative leader Danielle Allain says the move to cut sitting days for the legislature's main oversight committee is, quote, Trumpish and a threat to democracy. The legislature's calendar for 2027 shows half as many days devoted to the Public Accounts Committee. That's the main vehicle for MLAs to question government departments and crown corporations over their work and how they spend public money. Leader of the official opposition, Margaret Johnson says both opposition parties are talking about how to fight the changes. This is something that is integral to the democracy of New Brunswick and making sure that the people of New Brunswick know what's being done at the departmental level and we are going to stand united in making sure that PAC gets the attention it deserves and and that status quo is the only solution really. Justice Minister Robert McKee says there will still be the same number of days set aside for committee work but those days will be weighted toward committees that meet less often. That's along with a special committee tasked with overhauling the legislature's standing rules for the first time in 40 years. There are a number of issues that are being raised by opposition parties and we're willing to work with them to get the appropriate people to the various committees to discuss their issues. We haven't heard from a number of legislative officers for a couple of years now that PP Locke hasn't met in over a year so those are those are requests that we've received from opposition parties to ensure that that committee will sit