Opposition leader Blaine Higgs is challenging Premier Brian Gallant to a no holds barred one on one debate at the Fredericton Playhouse with all procceeds going to charity.
Higgs is trying to widen the circle of responsibility for the inflated property tax assessments to the entire provincial cabinet.
The Premier, meanwhile, is going on offense, putting the heat on Higgs from his time at Irving Oil. Gallant says Higgs has boasted on his website about helping to bring the LNG terminal to Saint John and that begs the question about what role he played in getting the big tax concession granted by Common Council in 2005 which cost the city of Saint John millions of dollars.
Higgs replied by saying Question Period is for the opposition to ask the government questions, not the other way around.
Saint John Lancaster M-L-A Dorothy Shephard says by fast tracking the new technology to determine property tax assessments, the Premier wanted to raise tax revenue by $7 million.
She also argues the timing of the Family Day announcement this week was designed to divert attention away from the inflated property tax assessments. Shephard also claims the additional statutory holiday in February will cost employers in the province $77 million.
