An official with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says spending almost $2-million to create fewer than 60 jobs in New Brunswick should be raising questions from the public.
Kevin Lacey, the federation's Atlantic director, says taxpayers expect politicians to spend their money more wisely.
"Like education, like roads and infrastructure," Lacey said. "They do not expect it to go into the pockets of these corporate executives who are getting this money."
He says New Brunswick's record in funding private companies isn't good, when one in five businesses go under.
Premier David Alward this week announced $1.8-million in provincial funding would create 30 jobs at a call centre in Saint John.
In Bathurst, 26 jobs will be created at FFG Canada, an international joint-venture company between Rubber Company Ltd. And FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH.
The company will begin work with a $135-million contract awarded to the German defence firm to supply 13 WISENT 2 Armoured Engineer vehicles.
Invest NB gave FFG Canada a payroll rebate of $700,000 and $300,000 in forgivable loans.
The province gave an extra $500,000 under the $200-million Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund.
Investing in the aerospace and defence industry is one of the six areas of focus in N.B.’s economic action plan, Premier David Alward said in a news release.
In Saint John, 30 full-time jobs will be created at the Genesys Laboratories Canada Inc., customer care centre — another Invest NB initiative.
Payroll rebates of $300,000 will be given to the company.
The investment will contribute $1.6 million annually to the province’s gross domestic product, once all employees have been hired, a news release said.