Greens promise care plan for seniors

Speaking at a nursing home in Riverview, Green Party Leader David Coon announced several measures he would take to improve seniors' care as premier.

"Our aging population deserves to age with dignity and receive the quality of care that they need right in their communities," Coon said.

He said he would increase the minimum number of hours of care seniors receive in long-term care to 4.1 hours per day. Under the Nursing Homes Act, residents are currently guaranteed 3.1 hours a day.

Coon said the cost estimate for the change, which would happen over four years, is $185 Million.

WATCH | Coon says he'd raise the comfort and clothing allowance for seniors if elected:

Greens would increase hours of care, comfort benefits for seniors if elected

7 days ago

Duration 1:15

Leader David Coon was in Riverview on Friday to announce a number of measures to improve long-term care in the province if the Green Party wins the election.

He would also raise the comfort and clothing allowance to be indexed with inflation, and cap special care home rates at $80 a day, he said.

"It's one of the reasons that there are seniors stuck in hospitals waiting for special care home beds," Coon said.

"While there are beds available in many special care homes, the cost, because they're not capped, can be unaffordable."

Coon also said he would restore the Primary Informal Caregiver Benefit, which was cut by the PC government in 2019 to fund a pay raise for home-care workers instead.Additionally, Coon said he would implement the dementia strategy that's been shelved by past PC and Liberal governments.

He pointed to a report called New Brunswick's Elders: Neglected and Forgotten, published by the Association francophone des ans du Nouveau-Brunswick, which says many seniors receiving care are suffering from malnutrition, medical negligence and poor standards of care.

The Progressive Conservatives did not have any events or make and public promises on Friday.

Liberals promise to make women's health care affordable

Liberal Leader Susan Holt said at an announcement in Fredericton that she would make women's health care both accessible and affordable.

"Women living in New Brunswick deserve access to affordable and accessible health care that recognizes their needs," Holt said.

"Affordability is key, so we want to make sure that people can access health services that won't bankrupt their families or that are only available to people who have means."

WATCH | Holt breaks down the cost of women's health measures:

Free birth control, more midwives: Liberals unveil womens health-care plan

7 days ago

Duration 1:50

Leader Susan Holt said the Liberal Party would sign an agreement with the federal government to give New Brunswickers free access to contraception if elected. Other womens health-care measures would include at-home pap tests and free rounds of IVF.

Holt saidher government would make contraception free by accessing federal funding, and fund round one of In Vitro fertilizationfor those that need it.

One in six families struggle with infertility, she said.

"So it's something that we hear often in quiet conversations. It's a hard thing to talk about, and is something my husband and I went through."

The Liberal campaign later clarified a list of which contraceptives a Holt government would make free. Theyincludeoral birth control pills, hormonal and copper IUDs, hormonal implants, hormonal vaginal rings, contraceptive injectionsand emergency contraceptives.

She also promised to expand midwifery servicesbeyond Fredericton by addingtwo more locations, and to introduce at-home pap tests for cervical cancer screening.

"Cervical cancer rates in New Brunswick are not going down and it's the fourth most common cancer across the world," Holt said.

The cost estimate for these campaignpromises is $4.94 million, Holt said.

Her announcement did not touch on abortion, althoughexperts have called for increasedaccess to those services in New Brunswick.

Advancepolling begins Saturday

People may be used to advancepolling days occurring on a Saturday and Mondaybut this year, because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the second day will be on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Advancepolling locations can be found on voter information cards or on the Elections New Brunswick website. The polling stations are open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on advancepolling days.

WATCH | Voting in New Brunswick explained:

Unsure about the voting process in N.B? Heres what you need to know

23 days ago

Duration 3:26

Whos eligible to vote? How do you find out what riding youre in? Can you vote if youre just studying in New Brunswick? We answer your questions ahead of the upcoming provincial election.

After Tuesday, the next chance for people to vote at the polls will be election day, Oct. 21.

If voting on advancepolling days or on election day doesn't work for some people, they can alsocast a ballotat any returning office in the province, at any time during the campaign.

Returning offices also offer additional accessibility measures that polling stations don't, such as audio voting for people with visual impairments.

LISTEN| CBC's Radio Shift Political Panel:

Shift - NB18:15Political Panel: Provincial Election

Our panel of politics watchers gathered to discuss the upcoming political election.

According to the Elections New Brunswick website, there is also an option to vote by mail, but thatrequires voters to apply in advance.

Nursing homes and special care homes will also have pre-arranged visits from Elections New Brunswickpoll workers to help residents vote who are unable to go to polls.

Standings at dissolution:PCs 25, Liberals 16, Greens 3, Independent 1, vacant 4.

Where the leaders are today

Liberal Leader Susan Holtwill be in Fredericton to cast her vote in advance polling.

Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgswill be in Quispamsis to cast his vote in advance polling.

Green Leader David Coon will be campaigning in the Fredericton region.

For complete coverage, here is a link to CBC'sNew Brunswick Votes 2024 stories.