Justin Trudeau campaigns alongside New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau (right) and New Brunswick Leader Brian Gallant (Facebook photo)

MONCTON, N.B. — Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is lending his support to his counterpart in New Brunswick in the early stages of that province’s election.

Trudeau campaigned in Moncton alongside New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant, who is trying to dethrone Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward.

Like Trudeau, Gallant has faced questions from some who say he is too inexperienced to lead.

Trudeau dismissed such criticism, saying Gallant has surrounded himself with a strong team and will make for a co-operative partner in Ottawa should he become premier after the Sept. 22 vote.

Some opponents of abortion also showed up at the Liberal rally, to which Trudeau said was a sign of one of Canada’s strengths — the ability to express oneself freely.

Still, he said his view that abortion should be accessible has not changed.

Elsewhere on the campaign, provincial NDP Leader Dominic Cardy promised to rescind a shared-risk pension deal with New Brunswick public pension retirees.

Critics have said the changes put pensioners in financial jeopardy.

The government moved to a shared-risk pension model late last year for 17,000 current and 13,000 former government employees.