New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Wednesday 4 June 2025
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly opened with introductions of visiting students and guests, followed by statements of condolence for recently deceased community members and congratulatory statements for graduating classes and the 2029 Congrès mondial acadien. Members' statements addressed the historical Atcon loan guarantee, cuts to school support staff, World Bicycle Day, a proposed permanent legislative calendar praised as a family-friendly modernization, and opposition criticism of the Holt government over rural health care, broken promises, food bank and library funding cuts, and education chaos. In Routine Proceedings, Ms. Mitton gave notice of Motion 41 on public transportation and Bill 33 was read a third time and passed. The House debated the Green Party amendment to Motion 38 to add 16 sitting days to the permanent legislative calendar; the amendment was defeated 24 Nays to 16 Yeas, Motion 38 was carried, and the House adjourned at noon to reconvene in the Standing Committee on Economic Policy at 1 p.m.
Members' Statements
Aecon lobbying and Atcon loan guarantee history
Ms. S. Wilson
The member drew a comparison between the Holt government being lobbied by Aecon and the 2009 Atcon loan guarantee, which cost taxpayers $120 million, criticizing the former Liberal decision to give the Bank of Nova Scotia first right to Atcon's assets.
Cuts to school support staff and child and youth teams
Mr. Coon
The member read an email from a high school student with autism, ADHD, and anxiety describing how cuts to his Jordan's Principle worker, therapist, and librarian affect him, urging the government to reconsider.
World Bicycle Day and the Véloroute de la Péninsule acadienne
Mr. Robichaud
The member marked World Bicycle Day, highlighting the Acadian Peninsula's 600 km cycling network and thanking the organizations, municipalities, and volunteers behind it.
Nackawic collaborative care clinic
Mr. Ames
The member advocated for the Nackawic Health Centre's transition to a collaborative care clinic, noting the community is ready with a plan and repeatedly urging the Minister of Health to visit despite polite but non-committal responses.
Rural health care concerns
Unknown
A member expressed a lack of confidence that the Holt Liberal government will act on rural health care needs, echoing concerns felt in Nackawic.
Permanent legislative calendar as pro-family reform
Mr. Doucet
Doucet spoke in support of the government's motion to create the first permanent legislative calendar, saying as a young father predictability of sessions helps young families and increases participation, and called the motion feminist and pro-family.
Disconnect between Holt government promises and actions
Mr. Austin
Austin criticized the government for reckless spending, added debt, slashing food bank funding, cutting librarian funding, and delivering an empty gas-tax reduction bill, comparing the government to a shiny chocolate wrapper.
Tourism in Shediac and Cap-Acadie
Mr. J. LeBlanc
LeBlanc highlighted Shediac, the Lobster Capital of the World, and Cap-Acadie as vibrant Acadian tourist destinations, promoting the Shediac Lobster Festival and Aboiteau Beach.
Uncertainty in the education system
Mr. Hogan
Hogan called summer 2025 the summer of uncertainty, blaming the Holt government for blindly cutting school district funding, causing chaos, job losses, and pushing parents toward private education options.
Education system in crisis and government reform
Ms. Vautour
Vautour, drawing on over 20 years in education, said the government inherited a system in crisis and praised the minister for returning resources to classrooms after the former government ignored parents and cut infrastructure.
Teacher secondments to Department of Education
Mr. Cullins
Cullins criticized the Education Minister for not knowing how many teachers were seconded to her department, arguing that examining the department first would have found half the teachers sought and avoided chaos.
Routine Proceedings
Introduction of visiting students and guests
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier welcomed Grade 7 students and teachers from Central New Brunswick Academy in Upper Miramichi, and Grades 3 and 4 students from Connaught Street School in her riding, along with staff and volunteers accompanying them.
Introduction of Kyra Lustig
Ms. M. Wilson
The member for Oromocto-Sunbury welcomed Kyra Lustig, President of the Young Progressive Conservatives of New Brunswick, a St. Thomas University student and Indigenous Student Representative.
Introduction of guests from Doaktown and petition preview
Mr. Bourque
The member welcomed Ben Robichaud, his mother Cassie Kervin, friend Lexie Johnston, and teacher Johanne Munn, praising Ben's civic engagement in collecting over 850 signatures for a petition to pave the parking lot at Doaktown Elementary School.
Condolence for Sandy Ross
Hon. Mr. Hickey
The member paid tribute to Sandy Ross, CEO of Saint John Airport, who passed away May 19, recognizing his work restoring direct flights between Saint John and Halifax and his efforts to secure the airport's future.
Condolence for John Herbert Lomax
Mr. Cullins
The member honoured John Herbert Lomax of Stanley, who died May 21 at age 92, a Canadian Army veteran of over 18 years and dedicated community volunteer.
Condolence for Jack Jardine
Hon. Ms. Miles
The member paid emotional tribute to friend Jack Jardine, a respected Fredericton real estate agent and community advocate.
Condolence for Rick Grass
Ms. Scott-Wallace
The member offered condolences on the passing of Rick Grass on May 28, a nearly 40-year NB Power employee, hockey referee, baseball umpire, and militia veteran.
Condolence for Marguerite Finnigan
Mr. Bourque
The member informed the House of the passing of Marguerite Finnigan of Rogersville, mother of the Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, a mother of nine and former teacher.
2029 Congrès mondial acadien in Chaleur Bay
Mr. M. LeBlanc
The member expressed pride that the 2029 Congrès mondial acadien will be held in the Chaleur Bay region and thanked all who contributed to securing the event.
Congratulations to Simonds High School 2025 graduates
Mr. Savoie
The member congratulated the 2025 graduating class of his alma mater Simonds High School and wished graduates well.
Congratulations to Fredericton High School and École Sainte-Anne graduates
Mr. Coon
The member congratulated Grade 12 graduates from Fredericton High School (June 19) and École Sainte-Anne (June 20), encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
Grand Bay Blue Mountain Rangers Cadet Corps review
Mr. Oliver
The member described attending the 35th annual ceremonial review of the Grand Bay 3034 Blue Mountain Rangers Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and praised the free cadet program's value for youth.
Concurrence in committee report
Madam Speaker
Pursuant to Standing Rule 78.1, the question on the motion that the report be concurred in was put and carried.
Notice of Motion 41 on public transportation
Ms. Mitton
Mitton gave notice of Motion 41 for June 12, seconded by Mr. Coon, urging the Premier to give the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure a mandate for public transportation and to allocate resources for a provincial public transportation strategy.
Notice of Opposition Members' Business
Ms. M. Johnson
Johnson announced the opposition had no new motions and that Motions 35 and 40 (paramedics/domestic violence and pharmaceuticals) would be debated the following day.
Government business ordering
Mr. M. LeBlanc
The Government House Leader stated the intention to begin with third reading of Bill 33, resume debate on Motion 38, then adjourn as a full House so the Standing Committee on Economic Policy could resume.
Orders of the Day
Third reading of Bill 33
Unknown
Bill 33, An Act to Amend the Community Funding Act, was read a third time and passed.
Debate on amendment to Motion 38 (permanent calendar)
Ms. Wilcott
Wilcott spoke in strong support of adopting a permanent legislative calendar as a modernizing, inclusive, family-friendly reform grounded in all-party committee work and a successful 2022 trial, retaining flexibility to recall or extend sittings.
Support for Green Party amendment to add 16 sitting days
Ms. M. Johnson
Johnson, from the Conservative caucus, supported the Green Party amendment to add 16 sitting days, arguing fewer sitting days weaken opposition accountability, reduce scrutiny and consultation, and enable executive overreach through orders in council, and urged Liberals to support it.
Green Party support for its amendment
Ms. Mitton
Mitton thanked the member for supporting the amendment and reiterated her long-standing advocacy for a permanent calendar, noting the amendment would add 16 days to the motion.
Amendment to Motion 38 – Permanent legislative calendar (adding 16 sitting days)
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton spoke in support of the Green Party amendment to add 16 sitting days, arguing a permanent calendar benefits members and constituents through predictability, and that more sitting days (returning to about 64 per session) would reduce reliance on closure motions, night sittings, and filibustering while allowing fuller debate and scrutiny of legislation.
Amendment to Motion 38 – Permanent legislative calendar
Mr. Hogan
Mr. Hogan supported the amendment, emphasizing the legislative branch's role in holding the executive accountable and the benefit of a predictable calendar for all members, while criticizing the limited number of sitting days as almost an affront to democracy given the volume of legislation.
Vote on proposed amendment to Motion 38
Madam Speaker
A recorded vote was requested by Mr. Coon and Ms. Mitton; the proposed amendment to Motion 38 was defeated on a vote of 24 Nays to 16 Yeas.
Adoption of Motion 38
Madam Speaker
Following the defeat of the amendment, Madam Speaker put the question on Motion 38 and the motion was carried.
Adjournment of the House
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Mr. M. LeBlanc proposed the adjournment of the House, noting the House would reconvene in the Standing Committee on Economic Policy at 1 p.m.; the House adjourned at noon.
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