New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Tuesday 3 June 2025
During this June 3, 2025 sitting of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, members delivered statements on issues including the Centennial Bridge sidewalk, climate change and wildfires, robotics/AI training, provincial finances, health-sector collective agreements, tariff relief, and education cuts, while ministers recognized National Indigenous History Month and Pride Season and reported on firefighters deployed to Western Canada. Routine proceedings included a committee report and government business ordering, with Private Bills 18, 34, and 36 read a second and third time and passed. The House then conducted second reading debates on several government bills, passing Bill 4 (petroleum products pricing), Bill 22 (property tax affordability measures/assessment freeze), Bill 24 (amendments to the Mental Health Act), Bill 28 (amendments to the Trespass Act), and Bill 30 (the Loan Act 2025 authorizing $1.5 billion in borrowing). The House adjourned at 3:59 p.m. to resume the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Members' Statements
Centennial Bridge sidewalk
Ms. Conroy
Conroy called for a sidewalk on the Centennial Bridge, describing a protest walk by over 100 Miramichiers, thanking the opposition leader and new MP Mike Dawson, and demanding the minister reverse the decision to cancel it.
Wildfires and climate change
Ms. Mitton
Mitton spoke about the deadly wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and accelerating climate disruption, arguing the Holt government has shown only status-quo climate leadership.
Robotics and AI training centre in Shippagan
Mr. Mallet
Mallet described his visit to the Carrefour de Formation en Robotique Industrielle et Intelligence Artificielle at the Université de Moncton's Shippagan campus, highlighting its training and support services for businesses.
Provincial finances and deficit
Mr. Monahan
Monahan warned of a potential billion-dollar shift in the wrong direction combining prior and forecasted deficits, and cautioned that credit-rating impacts from pension changes and NB Power debt would increase interest payments at the expense of programs.
CUPE 1252 collective agreement
Mr. Bourque
Bourque acknowledged the new collective agreement with CUPE 1252, representing over 9,000 essential health-care workers, featuring a $5-per-hour wage increase over four years.
Tariff relief fund
Ms. Bockus
Bockus questioned whether the province had disbursed any of its $162-million tariff relief fund, citing a May 28 headline and the Premier's earlier promises, and demanded transparency on whether aid is being provided.
Education system improvements
Mr. M. LeBlanc
LeBlanc criticized six years of education mismanagement by the former government and touted the current government's efforts, including a free breakfast program and collaboration with educators to improve literacy, numeracy and absenteeism.
School district budget cuts and negotiations
Mr. Lee
Lee criticized the government's post-budget negotiation process, arguing the $43-million cuts to school districts caused job losses and lost supports for vulnerable students because districts were not told about the process in advance.
Interprovincial trade and buying local
Ms. Wilcott
Wilcott highlighted increased public engagement on trade and tariffs, noting memoranda of understanding removing interprovincial trade barriers with Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, and support for local businesses.
Education cuts and ISD teams
Mr. Weir
Weir raised concerns about unanswered questions on the $43-million education cuts, particularly the cut to integrated service delivery (ISD) teams serving vulnerable students, and questioned whether the minister understands ISD's impacts.
Wildfires and climate crisis
Unknown
A member expressed respect for firefighters battling wildfires and their families, and argued that the province is not ready for the consequences of the climate crisis, calling for priorities such as dual community access routes and universal cell coverage for emergency alerts.
Summer of History initiative
Hon. Ms. Thériault
The minister highlighted Association Heritage New Brunswick's initiative designating June, July, and August as the Summer of History, encouraging visits to over 110 heritage sites, museums, and galleries.
Summer of History - heritage memories
Ms. M. Wilson
The member celebrated Association Heritage New Brunswick's 50 years of work and shared personal memories of touring provincial heritage sites in the mid-1970s.
Summer of History - covered bridges
Ms. Mitton
The member spoke about the importance of covered bridges and the Love Your Covered Bridges Days, noting the Wheaton Covered Bridge closure and hopes for its reopening.
Routine Proceedings
National Indigenous History Month
Hon. K. Chiasson
Chiasson delivered a ministerial statement recognizing June as National Indigenous History Month, acknowledging New Brunswick's 15 First Nations communities and the government's commitment to open, respectful dialogue and rebuilding relationships.
National Indigenous History Month (response)
Multiple
Opposition members Conroy and Coon responded, with Conroy acknowledging reconciliation as ongoing work and Coon noting Wolastoqey Treaty Day and inviting members to upcoming powwows, including the June 13-15 powwow at St. Mary's First Nation.
Pride Season
Hon. Ms. Boudreau
Boudreau delivered a statement marking the start of Pride Season on June 1, praising community partners and recounting her attendance at the Éclat de Fierté gala in Bouctouche and the Pride flag raising in Dieppe.
Pride Season (responses)
Multiple
Scott-Wallace, and Mitton responded, sharing personal reflections on offering safe spaces and progress made, with Mitton calling for concrete policies such as coverage for gender-affirming health care, housing equity, and addressing gender-based violence.
Western Canada wildfires and firefighter deployment
Hon. Mr. Herron
Herron offered condolences over the Western Canada wildfires and reported that the Wildfire Management Branch will deploy 54 members plus equipment to Northwest Territories, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
Western Canada wildfires (responses)
Multiple
Austin and Coon responded, expressing appreciation for New Brunswick firefighters, noting the deceased couple in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, and praising the province's forest-management leadership while wishing crews a safe return.
Committee Report - Standing Committee on Economic Policy
Ms. Vautour
As Chair, presented the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Economic Policy, reporting Bill 33 (Community Funding Act amendment) as agreed to and progress on Bill 23; the motion to concur was carried.
Government Motion for Ordering of Business
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Outlined government's intention to read Private Bills 18, 34, and 36 a second time, proceed with second reading of Bills 4, 22, 24, 28, and 30, then adjourn for the Economic Policy committee to consider Bills 23, 27, 29, 35, 20, and 26.
Orders of the Day
Second and third reading of Private Bills 18, 34, and 36
The Speaker
Private Bills 18 (Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists), 34 (Massage Therapy Act), and 36 (Osteopathy Act) were read a second time, ordered for third reading under Standing Rule 121, then read a third time and passed.
Second reading debate on Bill 4 - Petroleum Products Pricing
Ms. Mitton
Argued the cost pass-through mechanism must be made fair by requiring refineries (Valero and Irving) to present real cost evidence to the EUB, called for regular margin hearings, regulation of supplier profits including possible windfall taxes, and use of the rack price instead of the New York Harbor price; Bill 4 was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Second reading debate on Bill 22 - Property Tax Affordability Measures
Mr. Coon
Criticized the bill as misnamed since it merely freezes 2026 property assessments, faulted the lack of an equity clause, the unnecessary inclusion of heavy industry (which can already seek value reductions), potential fiscal harm to struggling municipalities, and called for more innovative, fair, and transparent assessment approaches recognizing homes as homes rather than investments.
Second reading debate on Bill 22 - continued
Mr. Weir
Explained that the bill amends the Assessment Act and Real Property Tax Act to freeze 2026 assessments at 2025 levels, benefiting owners of about 430,000 properties, and raised concerns about exemptions for new construction and major improvements (with or without permits), worrying that people may be surprised to find they are not covered by the freeze.
Bill 22 — An Act Respecting Property Tax Affordability Measures (second reading debate and passage)
Mr. Weir
An opposition member detailed exemptions to the proposed property tax assessment freeze (building permits, sales/transfers, classification changes, reassessments), welcomed the expanded equalized payment plan eligibility for some 460,000 property owners, and criticized the freeze for shifting the burden onto municipalities—citing municipal leaders Yvon Godin (AFMNB), Brittany Merrifield (UMNB) who warned of up to $58 million in lost revenue and called it a 'chokehold' rather than reform. The bill was subsequently read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Bill 24 — An Act to Amend the Mental Health Act (second reading debate)
Hon. Mr. McKee
The Minister moved second reading, explaining amendments to strengthen supervised community care: replacing 'competence' with 'capacity,' moving to a non-consent model, expanding scope to include housing, increasing participation of family and cultural advisors in review boards, extending access to those in correctional facilities, clarifying powers of peace officers and health professionals, and strengthening procedural safeguards. He noted the bill followed a mandated five-year review with over 80 participants and the Child and Youth Advocate's support.
Bill 24 — opposition response
Mr. Weir
Speaking for the official opposition, the member applauded and supported the bill's intent to modernize mental health care, while cautioning about potential unforeseen consequences and the powers granted to police and the judiciary, and welcoming provisions for family and independent advocates and legal representation.
Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Mental Health Act — second reading debate
Multiple
An opposition member praised the bill's intent on mental health but stressed the opposition's role to scrutinize the complex bill, raising concerns about supervised community care plans during hospitalization (s.34.03(4)), the enforcement and authority for time-sensitive treatments, and the implied housing guarantee in s.34.04(2) given limited financial and human-resource capacity. Mr. Coon supported the bill's improvements—greater participation of family, elders and cultural advisors at review board hearings, and recognition of housing's role—but called it only incremental, citing untreated childhood trauma in schools and urging major reforms to the Act, programs and budgets.
Bill 24 — passage of second reading
Madam Speaker
After no further speakers, the question was put and Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Mental Health Act, was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Trespass Act — second reading debate
Multiple
Hon. Mr. Herron introduced second reading, explaining the bill removes plantations of seedlings and saplings from the classes of agricultural land requiring written permission to enter, thereby restoring public recreational access (hiking, berry picking, hunting, fishing) to about 372,000 ha of forest land while preserving landowners' ability to post signage. Ms. M. Johnson responded that the repeal of paragraph 6(1)(g) may weaken environmental stewardship, create legal ambiguity, overlook Indigenous perspectives and miss deeper social issues, while acknowledging past efforts to protect agricultural land such as the resilient agricultural landscape program.
Bill 28 - An Act to Amend the Trespass Act (Second Reading)
Unknown (PC member)
A member criticized the 2025 amendments repealing paragraph 6(1)(g), arguing they weaken environmental protections for seedling plantations, burden landowners with legal ambiguity, overlook Indigenous land-management perspectives, complicate enforcement, and ignore social root causes of trespassing, and called on legislators to revisit the changes.
Bill 28 - An Act to Amend the Trespass Act (Second Reading)
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon said he would support the bill as it fixes an unintended consequence of the previous government's amendments, but warned that forestry plantations threaten biodiversity, citing research that such practices killed up to 104 million birds in the Maritimes since 1988 and turned forests into net carbon sources.
Bill 28 passed Second Reading
Madam Speaker
Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Trespass Act, was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Bill 30 - Loan Act 2025 (Second Reading)
Hon. Mr. Legacy
The Minister introduced Bill 30 to authorize $1.5 billion in new borrowing, explaining the 2025-26 estimates require $1.4 billion in new loans and that the additional authority will rebuild loan reserves while maintaining one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios in the country.
Bill 30 - Loan Act 2025 (Second Reading)
Mr. Monahan
Mr. Monahan criticized the bill as a 'blank cheque' lacking transparency, noting the province already carries over $23 billion in funded debt, and urged colleagues not to authorize borrowing without disclosure, clear commitments, and legislative oversight, asking that the bill be sent back for revision.
Bill 30 passed Second Reading
Madam Speaker
Bill 30, Loan Act 2025, was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Policy.
Adjournment
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Having finished second readings for the day, Mr. M. LeBlanc proposed adjournment of the House to resume the Standing Committee on Economic Policy; the House adjourned at 3:59 p.m.
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.