New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Friday 31 October 2025
On Day 8 of the Second Session of New Brunswick's 61st Legislature (Friday, October 31, 2025), the House resumed and concluded the Throne Speech Debate, dominated by an extensive address from Premier Susan Holt reviewing her government's first-year accomplishments and priorities across health care, housing, affordability, property tax reform, childcare, school breakfast and lunch programs, education, labour relations, Indigenous affairs, and economic and mining development. Following the Premier's closing remarks, the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne was adopted without amendment. Procedural motions were made to engross the Address and present it to the Lieutenant-Governor, a committee was appointed for that purpose, and the House adjourned.
Orders of the Day
Throne Speech Debate - Premier's First-Year Address
Hon. Ms. Holt
Premier Susan Holt resumed the adjourned debate on the address in reply to the speech from the throne, opening with thanks to constituents, Legislative Assembly staff, MLAs, her caucus and Cabinet, and reflecting on one year in government since the November 2024 swearing-in.
Early government actions - abortion coverage, housing, power bills, rent cap
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt highlighted early measures including abolishing Regulation 84-20 to fund abortions through Medicare, removing 15% from housing development costs, a 10% reduction in power bills as of January 1, and a 3% rent cap as of February 1.
Health care transformation - primary care and family health teams
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt described the government's collaborative primary care model, the opening of seven family health teams in Campbellton, Moncton, Miramichi, Carleton North, Tantramar, Lamèque, and Fredericton North, taking 10,600 people off the wait list, with at least three more clinics coming.
Health care recruitment and retention - doctors and nurses
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt reported recruiting 84 net new doctors (56 in the past six months), 232 net new RNs and 136 net new LPNs, providing $10,000 and $5,000 nurse retention bonuses, and signing a nurses' collective agreement between July and September.
Health care training expansion - paramedics, family doctors, pharmacists
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt cited over $6 million in paramedic bursaries doubling student enrolment from 74 to 151, new medical training and residency seats at the Centre de formation médicale and Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, and expanded pharmacist authority to treat 15 common ailments.
Rebuilding relationships - labour agreements and First Nations
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt highlighted signing six collective agreements in record time with CUPE locals and PSAC without strike action, and establishing revenue-sharing agreements with 14 First Nations to build nation-to-nation partnerships.
Support for vulnerable residents and housing
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt described a historic $9.2-million investment in gender-based violence support services and affordable housing progress including new units in Fredericton, Miramichi, and St. Stephen, alongside the rent cap and 15% cost reduction.
Property tax reform for homeowners and seniors
Hon. Ms. Holt
Holt outlined the government's commitment to property tax reform, noting a property assessment freeze established in 2025 to provide relief for seniors on fixed incomes, with full reforms to be completed in 2026 for a predictable, competitive, and stable system.
Other business
Property tax reform and childcare investments
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier described the property tax freeze as a temporary step toward broader reform, with legislation planned for 2026 to enact a reformed system, and highlighted a $200-million, five-year investment in childcare agreements supporting 3,600 spaces plus $7.24 million for early childhood educator wages.
Free school breakfast program and upcoming school lunches
Hon. Ms. Holt
She emphasized the free breakfast program rolled out to every school (625 orders placed with FeedNB in September), citing benefits for students, teachers and family affordability, and announced a school lunch program to launch in September 2026 built on local partnerships rather than a one-size-fits-all contractor model.
Rebuilding relationships and accountability measures
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier said the government had mended relationships with nurses, teachers, labour, First Nations and the civil service, and pointed to 15 publicly measurable, third-party-assessed accountability measures set out in the state of the province address.
Health care priorities for 2026
Hon. Ms. Holt
She outlined plans to sign a new physician service agreement, open at least 10 more family health teams, and reach 81% primary care access by end of 2026, plus investments in modernized medical records, AI in primary care, and a connected clinical information system.
Mental health and seniors' care
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier announced a 50-bed treatment facility opening summer 2026, a Moncton court diversion program launch, legislation to create a mental health advocate, expansion of the Nursing Home Without Walls program to 40 sites, and a $10-million investment to make home care more affordable.
Affordability and housing measures
Hon. Ms. Holt
She announced removal of the carbon cost adjustor (8.24 cents off gas on December 1), retention of the 3% rent cap for 2026, 430 new affordable housing units in 2026 toward a 1,760-unit goal, and a $21-million expansion of the direct-to-tenant subsidy supporting 2,500 families.
Education plan and teacher retention
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier described consultations on a new education plan to be established spring 2026 focusing on literacy, numeracy and reducing absenteeism (target 29%), streamlining childcare operator administration, and an upcoming teacher recruitment and retention strategy.
Economy, mining and defence
Hon. Ms. Holt
She said tariffs had hammered the economy and outlined an export diversification and productivity strategy, plans to unlock mining (Sisson mine, Brunswick Mine, Mount Pleasant) given New Brunswick's 21 of 34 critical minerals, defence sector opportunities, and legislative changes to accelerate resource projects.
Governing approach and closing tributes
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier stressed relationship-building on the ground and the principle of 'Nothing About Us Without Us,' thanked her husband Jon Holt, and compared her caucus to the Blue Jays while citing 62% voter support in September polls.
Closing remarks on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne
Ms. Holt (Premier)
The Premier concluded debate by reflecting on the government's first year, emphasizing progress on health care, staff retention, training investments, and clinic models, and expressed pride in serving New Brunswickers with a commitment to continued change.
Address Adopted
Madam Speaker
With debate ended, the Speaker read the address, put the question, and it was agreed to without amendment.
Government motion to engross and present the Address
Ms. Holt
Ms. Holt, seconded by Hon. Mr. Legacy, moved that the address in reply to the throne speech be engrossed, signed by the Speaker, and presented to Her Honour by a committee of the House.
Appointment of committee to present the Address
Madam Speaker
The Speaker appointed Hon. Ms. Holt, Mr. Robichaud, and Ms. Vautour to wait upon Her Honour and present the address.
Adjournment
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Mr. M. LeBlanc moved that the House adjourn; the Speaker announced the House would return next Tuesday and the sitting was adjourned at 9:57 a.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.