New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Thursday 30 October 2025
The seventh daily sitting of the New Brunswick Legislature opened with a tri-partisan tribute to firefighters, EMO staff and first responders for their work during an unprecedented wildfire season, followed by statements of condolence and congratulation honouring former MLA and Transportation Minister Sheldon Lee, architect Urbain Savoie, community figure Margaret Drost, and other deceased constituents and community achievements. Members delivered statements recognizing Diwali celebrations and community leaders, and ministerial statements were made on community safety consultations, the new 'Fresh Perspective' tourism strategy, and a youth mental health symposium, each drawing opposition responses. The Speaker raised points of order on House decorum, and Mr. Ames gave notice of Motion 14 urging emergency financial assistance for drought-affected wells and long-term water management. On this opposition day, the Opposition moved Motion 2 on increasing the number and regional availability of addiction recovery and treatment centres, with Mr. Weir opening the debate.
Members' Statements
Criticism of Premier's record
Ms. M. Wilson
Ms. M. Wilson quoted Brian Gallant on political perception and criticized the Premier for numerous announcements and photo ops without listing concrete results, challenging her to name achievements in the throne speech wrap-up.
Inequality and climate crisis
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton highlighted rising inequality, New Brunswickers struggling with power bills, and food bank use, arguing the climate crisis is an inequality crisis requiring fair taxation and public services.
Housing investments in Miramichi
Mr. Johnston
Mr. Johnston highlighted $1.8 million in funding through the Regional Development Corporation to upgrade infrastructure in Chatham and support affordable housing for young families and seniors in Miramichi.
Criticism of government results
Mr. Hogan
Mr. Hogan criticized the Premier's first year as marketing and photo ops with little substance, comparing government messaging to Pet Rocks, Sea-Monkeys and Chia Pets.
Free radon test kits
Mr. Arseneault
Mr. Arseneault highlighted the government's October 14 launch of free radon test kits at public libraries, delivered with the Research and Productivity Council and NB Lung, noting overwhelming demand.
Charter rights and federal negotiations
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames questioned whether the Premier believes New Brunswickers' Charter rights are less valuable than other provinces' or being used as currency with the Carney government, and asked why her government left the table.
Moncton addictions and mental health court program
Ms. Sodhi
Ms. Sodhi highlighted the 2026 launch of the Moncton addictions and mental health court program, offering treatment-focused alternatives to traditional justice, developed in partnership with Justice, Vitalité and community organizations.
Youth mental health
Ms. Mitton
Following the minister's statement on youth mental health, Ms. Mitton called for clarity on Integrated Service Delivery, raised concerns about the escalating youth mental health crisis, climate anxiety, harms of social media, and the risks of unregulated artificial intelligence in schools.
Routine Proceedings
Introduction of Guests — Wildfire firefighters and first responders
Hon. Mr. Herron
Minister of Natural Resources John Herron, with the Minister of Public Safety, welcomed firefighters, aircrews and operations-centre staff who fought this summer's unprecedented wildfires, thanking them and reading a commendation letter from a Western Canadian crew leader, and noting no structures were lost.
Response to firefighter tribute
Multiple
Members Savoie, Coon, Conroy and Johnston added tri-partisan thanks to the firefighters, EMO and first responders; Coon highlighted EMO's role, Conroy noted the 200th anniversary of the Great Miramichi Fire, and Johnston thanked responders in his riding.
Statement of condolence — Hon. Sheldon Lee
Hon. Ms. Holt
Premier Susan Holt paid tribute to former MLA and Transportation Minister Sheldon Lee, who died October 21, 2025, recognizing his 25 years representing Charlotte County, his role in twinning the Trans-Canada Highway, and welcoming his family in the gallery.
Statement of condolence — Sheldon Lee (member's tribute)
Mr. Lee
Ian Lee, a neighbour and distant relative of Sheldon Lee, honoured his service from 1978 to 2003, his devotion to community and family, and called for Route 785 to be forever known as the Sheldon Lee Highway.
Statement of condolence — Urbain Savoie
Hon. Ms. Thériault
Minister Isabelle Thériault paid tribute to architect Urbain Savoie of Grande-Anse, who died September 17, 2025, noting his contributions to New Brunswick's architectural landscape and offering condolences to his family.
Statement of condolence — Margaret Drost
Ms. M. Johnson
Margaret Johnson paid tribute to Margaret Isabel Drost of Bath, who died July 13, 2025, recalling her family, faith, and community role operating the Bath Save-Easy with her husband Gailen.
Tribute to Margaret
Unknown
A member paid tribute to the late Margaret, remembered as a welcoming community grocer deeply proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Tribute to Doug Boone
Mr. Oliver
Mr. Oliver honoured Doug Boone, who died October 15, recalling his life as an army reservist, pilot, master mechanic, race car builder and co-founder of the Belleisle valley volunteer fire department.
Diwali celebrations
Ms. Sodhi
Ms. Sodhi extended warm wishes to all who celebrated Diwali, sharing the festival's meaning as an Indian Canadian and how the community keeps its spirit alive in New Brunswick.
Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame expansion
Ms. Scott-Wallace
Ms. Scott-Wallace congratulated the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame in Petitcodiac on its facility expansion, noting a $105,000 investment from the previous PC government helped make it possible.
Fredericton Playhouse Honours recipient Lisa Anne Ross
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon congratulated Lisa Anne Ross, founder of Solo Chicken Productions and its Spirit Project, on being named this year's Fredericton Playhouse Honours recipient.
Ordre du mérite for Aldéa Landry
Hon. C. Johnson
Hon. C. Johnson recognized Moncton South constituent Aldéa Landry, first Acadian Deputy Premier of New Brunswick, for receiving the Ordre du mérite from the Université de Moncton alumni association.
Young climate leaders
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton congratulated members of STU Sustainability and Divest Mount A for climate advocacy, noting their recent visit to the Legislative Assembly and a climate protest in Sackville.
Notice of Motion 14 – drought assistance
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames gave notice of Motion 14 (seconded by Ms. Scott-Wallace) urging government to establish an emergency financial assistance program for well drilling and rehabilitation in drought-affected areas, prioritize farmers and rural residents, partner with contractors and communities, and develop long-term water management strategies.
Notice of Opposition Members' Business
Ms. M. Johnson
Ms. M. Johnson announced the Opposition's intent to present Motion 2 (treatment facilities), Motion 11 (methadone treatment oversight), and, time permitting, Motion 4 (wraparound services).
Ordering of House business
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Government House Leader Mr. M. LeBlanc noted that, being opposition day, the House would continue with the business proposed by the Opposition House Leader.
Private Members' Business
Motion 2 – increasing addiction recovery and treatment centres
Mr. Weir
Mr. Weir moved Motion 2 (seconded by Mr. Hogan) urging government to increase the number and regional availability of recovery and treatment centres, citing long wait times and the benefits of timely access, and opened debate arguing the government has neglected addiction and stressing the urgent need for residential recovery beds.
Other business
Ministerial statement on public safety consultations
Hon. Mr. Gauvin
The Minister of Public Safety reported visiting 12 communities to hear from municipal leaders on public safety, citing modernized legislation, a new sexual violence investigative unit, the Moncton court diversion program and federal commitment to contract policing beyond 2032.
Response on public safety consultations
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames called the community meetings a disaster with more questions than answers, describing them as a roadshow, and said no legislation modernization had been seen this year.
Response on public safety and community policing
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon called it the shortest statement on record but welcomed the minister meeting people, urging him to listen and announce a return to RCMP community policing.
Ministerial statement on 'Fresh Perspective' tourism strategy
Hon. Ms. Thériault
The Minister of Tourism launched 'Fresh Perspective', built with over 8,600 stakeholders, aiming to grow tourism from $2.7 billion to $3.7 billion by 2031 through regenerative, regionally-focused tourism.
Response on tourism strategy
Ms. M. Wilson
Ms. M. Wilson doubted the government's ability to deliver, citing a nearly $1 million budget cut and immigration cuts hurting restaurant and seafood sectors, and questioning whether closed heritage sites like MacDonald Farm and Ministers Island are included.
Response on tourism strategy
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton urged the government to lead on public transportation linking regions and to develop the strategy's hints on regenerative tourism, ecotourism, agrotourism and accessibility with more detail.
Ministerial statement on youth mental health symposium
Hon. C. Johnson
Hon. C. Johnson highlighted a first-of-its-kind district-level mental health symposium involving about 200 students from three high schools, organized by the Centre of Excellence for Health with Anglophone North School District and Jack.org ambassadors.
Response on youth mental health symposium
Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee, responding to his second ministerial statement of the week, called the participation of about 200 students in youth mental health conversations encouraging.
Point of order on House decorum
Ms. M. Johnson
Ms. M. Johnson rose on a point of order reminding members to show respect to the Speaker by sitting when she stands and to direct questions through the chair.
Speaker's reminder on Standing Rule 57
Madam Speaker
The Speaker reminded members that they must sit when she stands and cited Standing Rule 57 prohibiting members from interrupting House business through private conversations.
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.