New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Wednesday 28 May 2025
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the New Brunswick House of Assembly opened with the introduction of guests, including members of the Paramedic Association and students from Minto Elementary Middle School, followed by statements of condolence and congratulation. Members' statements featured partisan exchanges over the Holt government's education funding and library staff cuts, along with points of order and Speaker's rulings on impugning members' integrity, while Green members promoted Bill 19 on the right to a healthy environment and a rare disease drug strategy, and government members highlighted a nursing home worker contract. During Routine Proceedings, notices of motion and opposition business were given, and the House proceeded to third reading of Bills 21, 25, and 12, with extended debate on Bill 12 repealing the Pension Plan Sustainability and Transfer Act, including a member's remarks drawing on personal pension contribution experience and questioning the government's campaign-driven rationale.
Members' Statements
Education funding cuts
Mr. Hogan
Mr. Hogan criticized the Premier for calling her education funding cuts negotiable and for blaming others, noting the word 'negotiable' does not appear in the government's budget speech and calling for responsible leadership.
Bill 19 — Right to a Healthy Environment
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton noted that the leader of the third party's Bill 19, An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment, would be debated the next day, giving members a chance to vote to support the right to a healthy environment in principle.
Bill 19 - Right to a Healthy Environment
Ms. Mitton
Mitton urged all members to vote in favour of sending Bill 19, An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment, to the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, noting it was drafted with environmental lawyers and reflects years of work by the NBEN's Environmental Rights Caucus.
Historic nursing home workers contract
Mr. Arseneault
Arseneault praised the signing of a historic contract for nursing home workers, quoting union president Sharon Teare and citing a wage increase of over $6/hour by 2028 that supports nearly 5,000 seniors.
Education cuts and library support
Ms. S. Wilson
Wilson criticized the Premier and Education Minister for telling different stories about education cuts, saying people lost jobs and students lost library support while the government scrambles to fix the mess.
National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases
Mr. Mallet
Mallet highlighted the government's January 2025 signing of a three-year, $32-million agreement with the federal government to improve access to drugs, diagnosis, and screening for rare diseases.
Criticism of Holt government cuts (unintended consequences)
Mr. Cullins
Cullins argued the Holt government's cuts across education, health care, food insecurity, and child welfare have caused failures, job losses, and prompted the Child and Youth Advocate to order quarterly reporting.
Kings Centre member's petition and LGBTQ+ concerns
Ms. Vautour
Vautour criticized the member for Kings Centre for presenting and signing a petition calling for a school principal's dismissal without reading it, calling the behaviour shameful and part of a troubling trend regarding the LGBTQ+ community, prompting a point of order.
Point of order on inflammatory statements
Ms. M. Johnson
Johnson raised a point of order that members should not impinge on the integrity of others; Mr. M. LeBlanc argued it was not a point of order, and the Speaker reminded members not to attack integrity, honesty, or character.
Larlee Creek Hullabaloo festival funding cuts
Ms. M. Johnson
Johnson noted the irony of the Tourism Minister congratulating Heidi Baird on her Stompin' Tom Award while the Larlee Creek Hullabaloo lost provincial and federal funding, though it will continue thanks to volunteers and business support.
Petition targeting inclusive educator and points of order
Mr. M. LeBlanc
LeBlanc criticized three Conservative members for signing a petition calling for the firing of a principal who supported 2SLGBTQIA+ students, challenging the interim leader to condemn the choice; multiple points of order were raised by Johnson and Savoie, with the Speaker repeatedly ruling on respect and criticism of policies versus personal attacks.
Education cuts timeline of headlines
Mr. Ames
Ames recapped a month of media headlines about the government's school library staff cuts and the Education Minister's evolving responses, prompting further points of order and a Speaker ruling that ministers may be criticized on policy but are held to a higher standard.
Routine Proceedings
Introduction of Guests — Paramedic Association
Hon. Mr. Dornan
The Minister of Health, joined by Mr. Savoie and Mr. Coon, welcomed members of the Paramedic Association in the gallery, including Phil Comeau, Courtney Croucher Fillmore, Derek Cassista, Eric Grant, Chris Hood, and Andrew Trecartin, recognizing paramedics as front-line first responders and part of the health care team.
Introduction of Guests — Minto Elementary Middle School
Mr. Austin
Mr. Austin welcomed the Grade 7 and 8 classes of Minto Elementary Middle School and accompanying staff to the Legislature, and Hon. C. Johnson added a welcome on behalf of the government side.
Reminder on use of electronic devices
Madam Speaker
The Speaker reminded members that during the Introduction of Guests, a member used an electronic device to read a statement, which the Standing Rules do not permit.
Statement of Condolence — Roch Bourgoin
Hon. Mr. Gauvin
The Minister of Public Safety offered condolences to the family and friends of Roch Bourgoin, a peace officer with the Department of Justice and Public Safety who died too young, noting a hockey fundraiser that raised over $26,000.
Statement of Condolence — Bob Lee
Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee delivered a condolence message about the passing of his father, Bob, on May 6, recounting his teaching career, community service, and love of travel.
Congratulation — Top 20 under 40 Greater Moncton
Mr. Doucet
Mr. Doucet recognized the annual Top 20 under 40 event organized by the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce, congratulating winners including his constituency assistant, Jovial Orlachi Osundu.
Congratulation — Charles Mollins, MADD Canada
Ms. S. Wilson
Ms. S. Wilson recognized Charles Mollins, president of the southeast chapter of MADD Canada, whom she presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his advocacy for safer roads.
Congratulation — David and Brenda Sansom philanthropy award
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon congratulated David and Brenda Sansom on receiving the Fredericton Community Foundation's 2025 Philanthropy in Action Award for their advocacy for the arts and community causes.
Congratulation — Rothesay Elementary School 50th anniversary
Hon. Mr. D'Amours
Hon. Mr. D'Amours, on behalf of the member for Rothesay, wished Rothesay Elementary School a happy 50th anniversary and thanked its staff and students.
Congratulation — Petty International Raceway
Ms. Scott-Wallace
Ms. Scott-Wallace celebrated the season opening of the Petty International Raceway in her riding, congratulating the organizers and workers behind the popular event.
Congratulation — Owens Art Gallery 130th anniversary
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton congratulated the Owens Art Gallery at Mount Allison University, Canada's oldest university art gallery, on its 130th anniversary and new exhibitions.
Congratulation — 2025 graduates, Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud
Mr. J. LeBlanc
Mr. J. LeBlanc congratulated the 2025 graduating class of Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud in Shediac and wished them success in their future endeavours.
Congratulation — Miramichi Striper Cup
Ms. Conroy
Ms. Conroy congratulated the organizers, volunteers, and participants of the 10th annual Miramichi Striper Cup, thanking founder Jeff Wilson and noting 217 teams and over $100,000 in prizes.
Notice of Motion 37 - local food purchasing
Ms. Mitton
Mitton gave notice of Motion 37 urging the government to set ambitious local purchasing targets for public institutions, ensure stable funding for local food contracts, and fund Food Depot Alimentaire's Fresh Local Food Program, citing low local food production and loss of farms.
Notice of Opposition Members' Business
Ms. M. Johnson
Johnson announced that on May 29 the opposition intends to speak on Motion 35 (declaring domestic violence an epidemic) and Motion 22 (reinstating pharmacists in the integrated health care system).
Notice to debate Bill 19
Ms. Mitton
Mitton gave notice that tomorrow the House would debate Bill 19, An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment.
Government motion on ordering of business
Mr. M. LeBlanc
LeBlanc outlined the government's intention to begin with third reading of Bills 21, 25, and 12, followed by second reading of Bills 22, 24, 28, and 30, all of which would stand referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Orders of the Day
Third reading of Bills 21 and 25
The Speaker
Bill 21, An Act to Amend the New Brunswick Income Tax Act, and Bill 25, An Act Respecting Subordinate Judicial Officials, were read a third time.
Third reading of Bill 12 - repeal of Pension Plan Sustainability and Transfer Act
Mr. Savoie
Savoie delivered an extended speech on third reading of Bill 12, recounting the history of pension reform, the move from underfunded defined benefit plans to the shared risk model in the 2010s, its stability and cost-of-living benefits, and stating that many questions from committee remain unanswered.
Debate on pension bill amending Bill 17 (shared-risk model)
Unknown
A member described the history of the shared-risk pension model, noting that MLAs and public-sector unions were included and that leadership required participating in what others were asked to do; the member explained that this bill rolls back some actions of the original Bill 17 after some bargaining units opted out, and raised outstanding questions about the government's plan, suggesting the move stemmed from a campaign commitment.
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.