New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Wednesday 11 December 2024
During its 10th daily sitting on December 11, 2024, the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly opened with introductions of guests, statements of condolence and congratulation, and members' statements addressing constituency needs, health care, property tax, and education infrastructure. Routine proceedings included the appointment of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, notices of motion, and the third readings of Bills 2 and 3. The House then resolved into Committee of Supply to review the 2025-26 capital estimates, hearing presentations from the Ministers of Education and Early Childhood Development and of Transportation and Infrastructure on school, road, bridge, building, and fleet investments. After setting aside the estimates, the House concurred in a committee report and adjourned.
Members' Statements
Christmas wish list for Fundy-The Isles-Saint John Lorneville
Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee presented a constituency 'Christmas wish list,' asking government to repair a bridge down since October, support Grand Manan and Fundy Shores development, address Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion concerns, and fix Deer Island ferry issues and lack of restrooms.
Vascular surgery services at Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon criticized the capital budget's support for abandoning a built hybrid surgical suite in Fredericton in favour of one in Saint John, warning that vascular surgery at the Chalmers hospital will end when its surgeon retires and that surgical wait times will rise.
Saint John Regional Hospital investment
Ms. Wilcott
Ms. Wilcott highlighted a capital budget investment in the Saint John Regional Hospital, including a new oncology clinic, ambulatory procedures unit, 32-bed intensive care unit, and hybrid operating room.
Thanks to Department of Public Safety staff
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames, as Public Safety critic, thanked all Department of Public Safety personnel—including police, sheriffs, coroners, custody and victim services, EMO, and 911 staff—for their dedication and wished them happy holidays.
Property taxes and industrial-residential tax coupling
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton argued that rising property taxes burden homeowners while a provincial policy tying corporate rates to residential rates let Irving Oil's tax bill fall, and called for immediately decoupling residential from industrial rates.
Education infrastructure efforts
M. J. LeBlanc
M. J. LeBlanc began a statement expressing pride in the government's efforts to improve education infrastructure in the province.
Education infrastructure improvements at Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud
Mr. J. LeBlanc
Highlighted government investment to improve education infrastructure, noting that Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud in his riding will receive essential midlife upgrades over the coming year to ensure a safe and welcoming space.
Routine Proceedings
Introduction of Guests
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour introduced Brian Cormier, a Memramcook municipal councillor since 2012, and Rino Savoie, a Dieppe entrepreneur, who were in the gallery to discuss various projects.
Condolences for Sydelle Nebb Grobe
Hon. Ms. Miles
Hon. Ms. Miles offered condolences on the death of Sydelle Nebb Grobe, a long-time New Maryland resident who died at 82 after a battle with cancer, recalling her devotion to family and her work assisting Vietnamese refugees.
Condolences for Laura Campbell
Ms. M. Johnson
Ms. M. Johnson extended condolences to the family of Laura Campbell of Plaster Rock, who died December 2, describing her as a strong supporter and volunteer, and shared a memorial poem written by Danny Stevenson.
Congratulations to Célébrations Sainte-Marie committee
Hon. Ms. Boudreau
Hon. Ms. Boudreau congratulated the Célébrations Sainte-Marie committee for organizing the 200th anniversary of the first land concessions in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, including building a community park and planting over 360 plants.
Congratulations to Sussex Asphalt Angels
Ms. Scott-Wallace
Ms. Scott-Wallace praised the 35 members of the Sussex Asphalt Angels, a car enthusiast group, for raising and donating $7,000 to youth programs, schools, and community causes.
Retirement of Julie Dingwell and Debby Warren
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon extended wishes to harm-reduction workers Julie Dingwell (AIDS Saint John/Avenue B) and Debby Warren (Ensemble/AIDS Moncton) on their retirements, noting Warren would receive the Order of Moncton.
100th birthday of Winnie Rice
Ms. Wilcott
Ms. Wilcott wished Saint John's Winnie Rice a happy 100th birthday, highlighting her WWII service in the British Army and her long history of community volunteering.
Retirement of Dr. Haines of Gagetown
Mr. Monahan
Mr. Monahan congratulated Dr. Haines on retiring after 30 years of service in Gagetown, and urged the Minister of Health to appoint a nurse practitioner to fill the resulting gap.
Royal Canadian Legion Life Membership awards
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton congratulated Josephine Scott, Robert Lucci, Sonny McCarron, and Russell Scott on receiving Life Membership awards from the Royal Canadian Legion for outstanding service.
Recognition of Christine Dupuis
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour recognized Christine Dupuis, who organizes activities for residents at the Domaine La Vallée de Memramcook nursing home, praising her positive impact on residents.
Belleisle Home & School Harvest Auction
Mr. Oliver
Mr. Oliver celebrated the 52nd annual Belleisle Home & School Harvest Auction, which raised over $27,000 this year and over $1 million total since 1970 to support local schools.
Appointment of the Standing Committee on Official Languages (Motion 12)
Mr. M. LeBlanc
With leave to dispense with notice, moved to appoint the Standing Committee on Official Languages for the 61st Legislative Assembly with a listed membership; the motion was carried.
Notice of budget motion (Motion 13)
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Gave notice of Motion 13 for March 18, 2025, that the House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government.
Notice of Opposition Members' Business
Ms. M. Johnson
Announced the opposition intends to debate Motion 5 (the SCAN program bill) and Motion 7 (the silage bill) during opposition business the following day.
Government motion for ordering the business of the House
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Stated the government's intention that Bills 2 and 3 be ordered for third reading, after which the House would resolve into Committee of Supply for capital estimates of Health, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and Early Childhood Development.
Recess arrangement
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Proposed, with consent, a recess from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. so members could attend the open house at the Premier's Office; the House agreed.
Committee Report Concurrence
Mr. Arseneault
After reverting to Presentations of Committee Reports, Mr. Arseneault (after some good-humoured false starts with the wrong report) reported progress and, pursuant to Standing Rule 78.2, the motion that the report be concurred in was carried.
Adjournment
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Mr. M. LeBlanc moved that the House adjourn, and the House adjourned at 2:31 p.m.
Orders of the Day
Third reading of Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Executive Council Act
The Speaker
Bill 2 was read a third time and passed.
Third reading of Bill 3, An Act to Amend The Residential Tenancies Act
Hon. Mr. Hickey
Spoke to third reading, emphasizing collaboration with opposition parties and committee witnesses; the bill establishes a permanent 3% annual rent cap effective February 1, 2025, with renovation exemptions up to 9% subject to review by the residential tenancies officer. Bill 3 was read a third time and passed.
Committee of Supply — Department of Health capital estimates
Hon. Mr. Dornan
Presented the 2025-26 capital estimates for Health, committing $226 million (a $26 million / 13% increase), including $138 million for major construction projects at hospitals in Bathurst, Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton and elsewhere, a new Saint John ICU and hybrid OR, community care clinics, $47 million in maintenance, $6 million for roofs, and new equipment such as a surgical robot and MRI/CT machines. The estimates were then set aside.
Committee of Supply — Department of Education and Early Childhood Development capital estimates
Hon. C. Johnson
Presented the 2025-26 education capital estimates of $193.6 million, noting over 9,600 additional students since 2021 and investments in four new schools, two additions and two midlife upgrades, including a new K-8 school in Fredericton, replacement of Grand Bay Primary and Inglewood School, and two new Francophone schools in the St. George/St. Stephen and Sussex/Hampton areas to meet Charter obligations to the linguistic minority.
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development capital estimates
The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
The Minister outlined 2025-26 capital investments including $2.5 million for a Saint Mary's Academy expansion in Edmundston, $1.2 million to plan an addition at École Abbey-Landry in Memramcook, $3.5 million and $3 million respectively to restart midlife upgrades at two polyvalentes, $250,000 for a multi-year school security program, and $163.1 million to support ongoing projects, plus $14 million for ventilation and $2 million for universal washrooms.
School infrastructure prioritization process (QBL / SDIP)
The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
The Minister explained that school districts submit capital requests analyzed using the Quadruple Bottom Line Multi-Criteria Analysis tool (in place since 2014) with 15 indicators across four quadrants, feeding the Stable Departmental Infrastructure Priorities list; she noted four projects were taken from the top and five new projects added to the bottom, and the full 2025-26 list would be made public that day.
Point of order regarding release of capital budget speeches
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton raised a point of order based on precedent requesting that members receive the government's capital budget speeches; the Minister M. LeBlanc argued it was not a point of order as it was up to government, and the Chair noted the intervention and said he would look into it.
Setting aside Education estimates
Mr. Chair
The Chair set aside the estimates of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development pursuant to the Orders of the Day and moved to the next estimates.
Department of Transportation and Infrastructure capital estimates
Hon. Mr. C. Chiasson
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure introduced his department's capital budget, thanked staff, described the many types of bridges (beam, suspension, arch, covered, drawbridge, modular/Bailey) and the province's aging infrastructure and asset management approach, and announced a $620.2 million capital budget (up $34.9 million), including $313 million for the highway program, $25 million for the Provincial-Municipal Highway Partnership Program, $92.6 million for the bridge program, and $76 million for federal cost-shared projects.
DTI Estimates - Bridge and Infrastructure Projects
Hon. C. Chiasson
The Minister described the Saint John bridge rehabilitation project (ongoing since 2021, scheduled for completion in 2027) and explained the function of bridge bearings, along with numerous other roads, culverts and bridge projects, including rural paving and chip sealing work.
DTI Estimates - Buildings, Air Quality and Fleet Investments
Hon. C. Chiasson
The Minister outlined DTI's management of 6 million square feet of government buildings and 142 leases, a $74.6 million maintenance investment, an air quality audit to meet the ASHRAE 241 standard, and $39 million in vehicle management including school buses and snowplows, with a fleet electrification target by 2035.
DTI Estimates - Conclusion and Setting Aside
Hon. C. Chiasson
The Minister concluded by describing the capital budget as fiscally responsible amid rising costs and climate change adaptation needs, after which the Chair commended the committee and set the estimates aside, calling the Speaker to resume the chair.
This is Tabled's summary of the sitting, written from the official record; Hansard is only ever quoted at the link above. Search New Brunswick Hansard for the words themselves, or read this sitting in the archive.