New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Tuesday 6 May 2025
On May 6, 2025, the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly opened with statements of condolence and congratulation and members' statements, in which opposition PC members criticized the Holt government's $14.3-billion budget cuts to school librarians, child welfare, food banks, seniors, and libraries, while government members defended affordability measures, IVF funding, tourism promotion, and the reopening of Hôpital Stella-Maris-de-Kent. In Routine Proceedings, appropriations Bills 31 and 32 passed second and third reading, and Mr. Coon gave notice of a motion urging a provincial solar retrofit program. The House then conducted second-reading debate on several government bills, referring Bill 13 (firefighters' compensation) and Bill 14 (fair registration practices) to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy, and debated Bill 15 amending the Highway Act, with opposition members raising concerns about foreign-government agreements, road reclassification, removal of Lieutenant-Governor oversight, a ministerial contracting exemption, and repeal of minimum wage requirements. The sitting adjourned at 4 p.m. to resolve into the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Members' Statements
Criticism of Holt government budget cuts
Mr. Ames
The member criticized the Holt government's budget for planned cuts of $47 million to child welfare, $1 million to food banks, a broken $4-million promise to nursing home seniors, and the firing of librarians in Anglophone West School District.
Mobile mental health crisis team follow-up access
Mr. Coon
The member raised a constituent's concern that direct access to mobile mental health crisis teams was shut down in 2023, requiring calls to an outsourced Ontario helpline, and urged the minister to reverse the decision.
Government affordability measures
Ms. Sodhi
The member outlined the government's actions on cost of living, including removing HST on new rental housing, capping rent increases, free school meal programs, more teachers, expanded primary care, and a $112-million tariff relief package.
Criticism of government spending and cuts
Mr. Oliver
The member accused the Holt government of using photo ops to deflect from funding cuts to food banks, at-risk children, nursing home residents and school library workers.
IVF funding
Ms. Vautour
The member expressed pride in the government's public funding for IVF care, describing it as giving hope to families facing fertility challenges and helping address the declining birth rate.
Criticism of budget priorities
Mr. Cullins
The member questioned where money was going in the $14.3-billion budget while food bank funding was cut by $1 million and child welfare by $47 million, saying Liberal voters did not vote for such cuts.
Reopening of Stella-Maris-de-Kent emergency room
Mr. Bourque
The member announced that the Hôpital Stella-Maris-de-Kent emergency room is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanking the Vitalité team, the Minister of Health, staff, and the local community.
Reopening of Hôpital Stella-Maris-de-Kent
Unknown
A member thanked Vitalité, the Minister of Health, health professionals and the local community — noting the leadership of Linda Renaud and Lise LeBlanc who gathered 6,242 petition signatures — for securing the hospital's reopening.
Criticism of Holt government budget
Mr. Hogan
Hogan argued the $14.3-billion budget with $750 million in increased spending and a $600-million deficit didn't add up, citing $43 million in school district cuts costing librarians their jobs, $47 million in child welfare cuts, and a $1-million food bank cut.
New Brunswick tourism potential
Mr. J. LeBlanc
LeBlanc expressed optimism about tourism as more Canadians vacation domestically in a 'Canadian bubble,' emphasizing tourism as an economic driver especially in Shediac—Cap-Acadie.
Criticism of 'transformational change'
Mr. Austin
Austin criticized the government's 'transformational change' slogan, arguing the changes — loss of school librarians and library helpers, halved food bank funding and $47 million in child welfare cuts — were changes for the worse, better described as 'irresponsible change.'
Routine Proceedings
Condolence for Barbara Campbell
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier celebrated the life of Barbara Campbell, a Fredericton lawyer of 40 years who passed away April 15, 2025, noting her energy, generosity, love of gardening and family.
Condolence for Raymond MacDonald
Ms. M. Wilson
The member honoured Raymond MacDonald, a 94-year-old Korean War veteran and 28-year member of the Canadian Armed Forces who passed away April 28, 2025, and noted his funeral arrangements.
Condolence for Glennis Boyce
Hon. Mr. Hickey
The member honoured Glennis Boyce, a Second World War veteran and lifelong volunteer who passed away at age 100 on April 19, 2025, noting her 50 years of library volunteer work in Deep River.
Condolence for Gerald Forsythe
Mr. Weir
The member marked the passing of Gerald Forsythe, a long-term Riverview resident and community leader active with the Riverview Lions Club, as a councillor and with Urban/Rural Rides.
Condolence for Robert Corbett
Mr. Monahan
The member honoured Robert Corbett of Gagetown, an entrepreneur and former New Brunswick and federal politician who represented Fundy Royal for nearly 16 years, who died April 6 at age 85.
Condolence for Jean Robertson
Ms. M. Johnson
The member honoured Jean Robertson of Plaster Rock, who died at age 103 having never missed an election since turning 18, describing her civic devotion and community involvement.
Congratulation to Kedgwick Dynamo hockey team
Hon. Mr. LePage
The member congratulated the Kedgwick Dynamo on winning the Appalachian-Valley Hockey League President's Cup for the first time in 15 years, recognizing coaches and standout players.
Congratulation to Fredericton Concert and Marching Band
Mr. Coon
The member congratulated the Fredericton Concert and Marching Band on its 50th anniversary and invited members to join in celebrating its anniversary concert on May 13.
Congratulation to Légumes Chez Reno
Hon. Ms. Thériault
The member congratulated Légumes Chez Reno of Grande-Anse for winning RDÉE Nouveau-Brunswick's provincial IMPACT award in sustainable development for its environmentally responsible farming practices.
Congratulation to Annabelle Dickson
Ms. Mitton
The member congratulated Grade 5 student Annabelle Dickson of Port Elgin Regional School for being a repeat winner of the Ryan Gunn Write for Fun book competition for her book The Cookie Can Crumble.
Second and third reading of appropriations bills
Unknown
Bills 31, Appropriations Act 2025-2026, and 32, Supplementary Appropriations Act 2023-2024(1), were read a second time and passed, then read a third time and passed.
Notice of Motion 30 — solar retrofit program
Mr. Coon
Coon gave notice of Motion 30, seconded by Ms. Mitton, urging the government to implement a comprehensive and accessible solar retrofit program that removes financial barriers and expands solar energy access for all New Brunswickers.
Introduction of guest Danny Soucy
Ms. M. Johnson
With unanimous consent to revert to Introduction of Guests, Johnson welcomed former MLA and minister Danny Soucy of the former Grand Falls—Drummond—Saint-André riding, an advocate for inclusion in schools who serves on the board of Inclusion NB.
Government business scheduling
Mr. M. LeBlanc
LeBlanc announced government bills would be called for second reading May 7 (Bills 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21), that bills advancing through second reading would be referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy, and that the House would adjourn by 4 p.m. to allow that committee to consider Bills 11, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Orders of the Day
Second reading of Bill 13 (Firefighters' Compensation Act and Workers' Compensation Act) — Minister's introduction
Hon. Mr. D'Amours
D'Amours introduced Bill 13, incorporating WorkSafeNB's five-year review recommendations covering benefits, assessments and modernization — including replacing the two-tiered survivor benefit with a single structure, raising survivor benefits to 90% of net earnings, removing the family income test and age-21 limit, increasing the lump-sum limit to $31,592, and adopting American Medical Association rating guidelines.
Bill 13 debate — Opposition support
Mr. Cullins
Cullins supported Bill 13, noting it merges the two Acts, expands presumptive cancer coverage, streamlines firefighter claims and aligns New Brunswick with other jurisdictions, while raising transparency questions about how the enhanced benefits — claimed to have no material costs — would be paid for (premiums, internal reallocation, or general revenues).
Bill 13 debate — Green support with call to expand presumptive cancers
Mr. Coon
Coon supported the bill but expressed disappointment it did not extend presumptive cancer coverage to other occupations, citing established links between certain cancers and workplace exposures (e.g. silica dust at Brunswick Mine, sawdust in sawmills, NB Power plants) and Ontario's model, and said he would raise these questions in committee.
Bill 13 debate — Support and questions on volunteer firefighters
Mr. Austin
Austin offered his support, praising both full-time and volunteer firefighters (citing training he attended in Miramichi), and said he would use committee to clarify eligibility — particularly whether volunteer firefighters are included and whether there is a difference in compensation.
Bill 13 – An Act Respecting the Firefighters' Compensation Act and the Workers' Compensation Act (Second Reading)
Multiple
An opposition member commended the minister and firefighters, noting the bill appears on the right path but that committee questions remain on eligibility and comprehensiveness; the bill was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Bill 14 – An Act to Amend the Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act (Second Reading)
Hon. Mr. D'Amours
The Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour introduced the bill as part of the government's tariff-response plan, explaining it reduces red tape and allows eligible labour mobility applicants registered in another province to begin working once proof of registration is received, while retaining regulatory bodies' vetting role and setting processing timelines.
Bill 14 – Opposition response
Mr. Cullins
The member for Fredericton-York spoke in support of the bill as timely legislation to reduce barriers for skilled professionals, but questioned exceptions under subsection 8.1(3) and the scope-of-practice limits in subsection 8.1(6), urging the government to clarify which professions remain exempt.
Bill 14 – Third party response
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon supported the bill in principle but warned it does not align with PEI and Nova Scotia legislation and could create unintended consequences, urging amendments to ensure incoming professionals are in good standing and carry insurance, citing engineers' concerns from his riding.
Bill 14 – Second Reading vote
Madam Speaker
Bill 14 was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Bill 15 – An Act Respecting the Highway Act (Second Reading)
Hon. C. Chiasson
The minister introduced amendments to modernize the 1968 Highway Act, clarify the minister's authority over public non-maintained roads, allow minor repairs without liability for overall maintenance, and increase operational efficiency by streamlining routine decisions.
Bill 15 – Opposition response
Mr. Oliver
The member for Kings Centre emphasized rural roads, ferries, and bridges in his riding and rising maintenance costs, and raised concerns about section 51/51.1 giving the minister power to declare public roads non-maintained without ensuring they are first in good repair, and about removing Lieutenant-Governor approval to allow the minister to spend up to $2 million.
Bill 15, An Act Respecting the Highway Act — second reading debate (opposition member)
Unknown (Member for Kings Centre)
An opposition member questioned the purpose behind the bill's amendments, objecting to removing Lieutenant-Governor approval in favour of a $2-million ministerial spending power, dropping minimum wage requirements, and permitting contracts with foreign governments over highways and ferries. He warned about offshore corporations doing work without adhering to provincial laws, raised concerns about lobbyist connections and a Tennessee contract, and about increased land-sale limits (from $15,000 to $150,000), pledging to scrutinize the bill in committee.
Bill 15, An Act Respecting the Highway Act — second reading debate (Ms. Mitton)
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton shared her colleague's concerns, questioning the reclassification of roads as public non-maintained, the release of easements, and especially the power to contract with foreign governments for highway maintenance. She argued DTI's internal capacity should be built up rather than contracting work out, citing a prior Auditor General review, and said she looked forward to potential amendments at committee.
Bill 15, An Act Respecting the Highway Act — second reading debate (Ms. Bockus)
Ms. Bockus
Ms. Bockus focused on subsection 51.1(1), arguing it legally absolves the minister and government of any obligation to maintain public non-maintained roads, calling it a quiet off-loading of rural infrastructure responsibility. Citing Hanson Cove road in St. Stephen as critical search-and-rescue infrastructure that DTI refuses to repair, she criticized the foreign-government contracting powers and the $2-million contracting exemption as eroding transparency, and asked the government to strip out or amend the most troubling provisions.
Bill 15, An Act Respecting the Highway Act — second reading debate (Mr. Ames)
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames echoed concerns over subsection 53(3) adding foreign jurisdictions as entities the minister may contract with, the repeal of section 7 dealing with minimum wage, deeds of conveyance and easements (section 12.1), and the power to reclassify roads as public non-maintained. He warned this could let government reclassify roads on a whim, questioned whether municipalities and EMO were consulted, and stressed the bill would be closely scrutinized in committee.
Adjournment to Standing Committee on Economic Policy
Mr. M. LeBlanc
At 4 p.m., pursuant to the Orders of the Day, the Government House Leader moved that the House adjourn to resolve into the Standing Committee on Economic Policy, and the House adjourned.
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.