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"Government officials need to listen to the warnings of employees. It appears this did not happen and we can see the results." — New Brunswick Union (NBU/NUPGE)
Fredericton (07 April 2017) — The New Brunswick Union (NBU/NUPGE) is deeply troubled by the statements made recently by the Premier of New Brunswick in regard to the property tax issues.
In a statement on the union's website from Susie Proulx-Daigle President of the NBU/NUPGE, she says that the blame for problems with the automated assessment system does not sit with the assessors, it rests with the elected officials.
Premier ordered assessment system fast-tracked instead of phasing it in
"They need to take responsibility for their actions in this matter," Proulx-Daigle said. "Assessors had nothing to do with the development and deployment of the formula the Premier referenced at his press conference."
As per media reports, the problems can be traced back to government's decision to fast-track an automated assessment system.
The original plan was to have the new tool phased in over a period of 2 to 3 years which would have allowed for more familiarity and understanding of the system. This plan was abandoned, according to media reports, at the behest of the Premier's Office.
"Government officials need to listen to the warnings of employees. It appears this did not happen and we can see the results," says Proulx-Daigle.
During a recent press conference, the Premier stated government will get out of the assessment business, turning it over to an independent agency. Without much detail, the Premier has left many hard-working New Brunswickers concerned with what this will look like and how it will affect themselves and their families.