New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Tuesday 9 December 2025
On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the New Brunswick Legislature opened with statements of condolence and congratulation—including tributes to the late Robert Hosford and community recognitions—an introduction of guest Wilfred Savoie, and Members' Statements in which PC members criticized the Holt government for focusing on 'housekeeping bills' rather than affordability, while Green and Liberal members raised pharmacare and the community care clinic rollout. Following notices of motion and a government motion, the House moved into Committee of Supply, where the Minister of Health presented the Department of Health capital budget, outlining $205 million in hospital infrastructure investments for 2026-27, and the Minister of Finance answered questions on the Supplementary Estimates 2025-2026, Volume 1, including Medicare spending, RHA deficits, and out-of-province care. Questioning continued on a $208-million increase in health care spending—$176 million attributed to bargaining—after which the committee adopted eight supplementary funding votes, reported progress, carried the concurrence motion, and the House adjourned at 3:34 p.m.
Members' Statements
Criticism of Holt government legislative priorities
Mr. Russell
Mr. Russell expressed disappointment that the government spent the session on housekeeping bills, citing Bill 2 on the Chief Medical Officer of Health as failing to help residents access physicians or reduce fuel costs.
Pharmacare / drug coverage agreement
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton urged the Premier to sign a drug coverage agreement with the federal government, noting New Brunswickers lack coverage for contraceptives and diabetes medications available in other provinces.
Saint John north end collaborative care clinic
Ms. Wilcott
Ms. Wilcott praised a morning announcement of a collaborative care clinic opening in Saint John's north end, framing improved primary care access as a government promise kept.
Criticism of government on affordability and childcare bill wording
Ms. Scott-Wallace
Ms. Scott-Wallace criticized the Holt government for focusing the session on matters like splitting 'childcare' into two words rather than affordability, calling the record embarrassing.
New family health team in Bathurst
Mr. Robichaud
Mr. Robichaud announced a new family health team in Bathurst as part of a growing provincial movement of community clinics, describing the collaborative care model as a promise kept.
Criticism of Holt government accomplishments
Mr. Oliver
Mr. Oliver criticized the government for passing over a dozen housekeeping bills and failing to deliver its promised fuel price reduction, saying constituents would find it accomplished nothing.
Wage increases for frontline workers
Ms. Sodhi
Ms. Sodhi recognized the government's wage increases for early childhood educators, personal support workers, school bus drivers, correctional officers and other frontline professionals as investments in the province's future.
Criticism comparing government to a 'show about nothing'
Mr. Cullins
Mr. Cullins compared the government's session to the sitcom Seinfeld, criticizing it for prioritizing UNB governance restructuring over affordability concerns for New Brunswickers.
Community care clinics as a promise kept
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour defended the government's record, stating it kept its 2024 campaign promise to create 10 community care clinics, which reduce hospital wait times and improve primary care access.
Constituent questions about government record (partial)
Ms. S. Wilson
Ms. S. Wilson began a statement anticipating constituent questions over the holidays about the Holt government's accomplishments.
Routine Proceedings
Condolence for Robert Hosford
Mr. Russell
Mr. Russell rose in sadness to mark the passing of Robert Hosford on November 12, describing him as a devoted family man and community figure, and invited members to express condolences to his family and friends.
Introduction of Guest — Wilfred Savoie
Hon. Ms. Holt
By unanimous consent, the House reverted to introduction of guests, and Premier Holt welcomed Wilfred Savoie, a former teacher and long-time contributor to the Francophone community and education system in Fredericton.
Congratulations to Club Richelieu Bathurst spaghetti event
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Mr. Legacy congratulated the Club Richelieu Bathurst on the 32nd Journée spaghetti Richelieu-ESN of November 16, which sold 3,550 meals and relied on over 500 volunteer hours and 2.5 tonnes of sauce.
Belleisle Regional High School basketball teams
Mr. Oliver
Mr. Oliver recognized the men's and ladies' basketball teams of Belleisle Regional High School for their victories at the By the Bay tournament and congratulated the coaches and student athletes.
Acadian heritage book project 'C'était mon village'
Hon. Ms. Boudreau
Ms. Boudreau highlighted the writing project 'C'était mon village: L'histoire de Saint-Paul-de-Kent,' a decade-long effort led by Louis Henri documenting Acadian family history, and congratulated the team, a 2025 Governor General's History Award finalist.
St. Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce business awards
Ms. Bockus
Ms. Bockus congratulated local small businesses and entrepreneurs who received awards from the St. Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce and related organizations.
Saint-Sauveur fire station renovation
Mr. Robichaud
Mr. Robichaud celebrated the November 23 inauguration of the renovated and expanded Saint-Sauveur fire station and thanked volunteer firefighters and project partners.
Carleton-York community organizations and service clubs
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames recognized numerous community breakfast hosts, service clubs, and fire hall auxiliaries in Carleton-York, including the Keswick Valley recreation centre Remembrance Day drive-through dinner.
Memramcook Christmas market and ATV parade
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour highlighted the successful Christmas market at École Abbey-Landry and the Christmas ATV parade in Memramcook, which raised over $5,700 and food for the food bank, thanking organizers and founder Paul Bourque.
Motion 24 — Budgetary policy of the government
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Hon. Mr. Legacy gave notice of Motion 24 for March 17, 2026, seconded by Hon. Ms. Holt, that the House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government.
Motion 25 — Updating the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower) Act
M. Coon
Mr. Coon gave notice of Motion 25 for March 19, 2026, seconded by Ms. Mitton, urging the government to update the Public Interest Disclosure Act with broader whistleblower protections, an independent complaints authority, staff training, and requiring the Act be treated as the primary disclosure framework.
Motion 26 — Restricting non-disclosure agreements
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton gave notice of Motion 26 for March 19, 2026, seconded by Mr. Coon, urging the government to enact legislation prohibiting the use of NDAs that conceal details and evidence of harassment, discrimination, and other misconduct.
Government motion for the ordering of business
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Mr. M. LeBlanc stated the government's intention that the House resolve into Committee of Supply to open and set aside the capital estimates of the Department of Health and consider the Supplementary Estimates 2025-26, Volume I.
Orders of the Day
Committee of Supply — Department of Health capital budget
Hon. Mr. Dornan
Minister Dornan presented the Health capital budget, highlighting a $205 million investment in 2026-27 for hospital renovations and expansions, including the Moncton Hospital coronary care unit ($56M), Saint John Regional Hospital redevelopment, Dr. Everett Chalmers labour and birth unit, a new endoscopy suite at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont hospital ($30M), and the Chaleur Regional Hospital expansion.
Supplementary Estimates 2025-2026, Volume 1 — Medicare spending
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Mr. Monahan questioned the $208 million added to Medicare; Minister Legacy explained the Physician Services Master Agreement totalled $176 million (75% GPs, 25% specialists), with additional amounts for radiology ($11M), alternate funding/hospitalists ($14M), and volume-driven services.
Part III Health Services supplementary funding and RHA deficits
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Minister Legacy explained the $105 million reflects RHA deficits ($119M offset by $14M primary care savings), breaking down Horizon's $47.9M deficit (salaries, supply pressures, digital automation) and Vitalité's $71.5M deficit (largely travel nurses and overtime).
Out-of-province health payments
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Responding to Mr. Monahan on $10 million for out-of-province payments, Legacy said most procedures occur in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec with very little in the United States, projecting costs to fall to about $92 million from $108 million last year.
Campobello Island residents and Medicare coverage at Lubec clinic
Ms. Bockus
Ms. Bockus raised concerns that Campobello Island residents, who use the Lubec, Maine clinic, were notified Medicare will no longer cover non-urgent care; Legacy said no specific ask exists in the supplementary budget and suggested raising it with the Health Minister.
Monitoring, evaluation and impact of additional health funding
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Mr. Monahan asked about monitoring and impact of additional hospital funding; Legacy said Finance monitors only financials while outcome monitoring and fund allocation across the province fall to the Department of Health.
Supplementary estimates – health care funding questioning
Multiple
Mr. Monahan questioned how the government ensures value for money in health care spending and why $208 million in additional funding was needed; Hon. Mr. Legacy explained that $176 million relates to bargaining and the remainder to fluctuating health demands, noting monthly consultations with the Vitalité and Horizon health networks and the obligation to provide care without refusing cases.
Committee of Supply votes on supplementary estimates
Mr. Chair
The committee adopted eight funding motions for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, including $11M for First Nations Revenue Sharing Agreements, $323M for Health, $9M for Justice and Public Safety, $14M for Natural Resources, $6M for NB Housing Corporation, $7M for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, $92M for Social Development, and $3M for Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
Committee report and adjournment
Mr. Arseneault
Mr. Arseneault reported progress and that several items had passed; the Speaker put the concurrence motion, which was carried, and Mr. M. LeBlanc moved adjournment, with the House adjourning at 3:34 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.