New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Wednesday 18 March 2026
The New Brunswick Legislative Assembly held its 26th daily sitting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, with Members' Statements dominated by reactions to the previous day's provincial budget. Opposition PC and Green members criticized the projected $1.39-billion deficit, rising debt-servicing costs, potential rural school closures, nuclear power investments, and the elimination of large animal veterinary services, while Liberal government members defended the budget's health care investment, electricity rebate, and new school lunch program. A congratulatory statement recognized a Mount Allison student's dementia-care initiative, and guests from Nackawic Elementary School were introduced.
Members' Statements
40th anniversary of a multi-generational family farm business
Unknown
A member recognized the 40th anniversary of a family farm business founded by Adolf, now run across generations by Claudia (restaurant), Inge (butcher shop), and Lukas (farm).
Congratulating Neveah LeBlanc for dementia-care initiative
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton congratulated Mount Allison student Neveah LeBlanc, who received a $2,000 Place aux compétences grant to provide sensory and comfort items for dementia patients at Sackville Memorial Hospital.
Budget criticism - debt servicing costs
Ms. M. Wilson
Ms. Wilson criticized the Holt government budget, saying the big winners were Bay Street and banks, as debt-servicing costs rose to $860 million, up nearly $300 million from the previous PC level of $583 million.
Budget criticism - nuclear power investment
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon opposed the budget's $10-million addition to provincial debt for nuclear power at Point Lepreau, calling nuclear the most expensive generation method, and advocated for battery-backed wind and solar power distributed through a smart grid.
Budget defence - affordability and services
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Mr. LeBlanc defended the budget, highlighting the 10% electricity rebate, health care team stabilization, and a new school lunch program building on the breakfast program.
Budget criticism - potential school closures
Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee criticized the possible closure of schools below one-third capacity or with fewer than 100 students (33 such schools exist), arguing school districts were being made scapegoats for government's fiscal cutbacks.
Budget defence - health care investment
Ms. Wilcott
Ms. Wilcott praised the budget's $710-million increase in health care funding as the largest health investment in the province's history, contrasting it with the previous government's record.
Budget criticism - elimination of large animal veterinary services
Ms. Bockus
Ms. Bockus criticized the eradication of provincial large animal veterinary services, saying it ignores rural realities and affects 5,680 New Brunswickers on farms, and called on government to clarify its decision.
Budget defence - electricity rebate
Mr. Bourque
Mr. Bourque highlighted the ongoing 10% electricity rebate and energy savings programs, noting the budget adds a further $98-million investment to maintain the rebate in 2026-27.
Budget criticism - deficit and broken balanced-budget promise
Mr. Cullins
Mr. Cullins criticized the projected $1.39-billion deficit, noting the balanced-budget promise was broken and that the government previously missed its deficit target by about $1 billion.
Budget defence - civil service growth and health funding
Mr. Doucet
Mr. Doucet argued the Higgs majority government grew the civil service by 13.9% while population grew only 9.9%, and defended the current budget as respecting New Brunswickers' priorities with the largest health funding increase in history.
Budget criticism - deficit and unmet promises
Mr. Monahan
Mr. Monahan argued the Premier's fearmongering over cuts distracted from a $1.4-billion deficit, warning the government is approaching a combined $3-billion deficit over its first two years and had broken its balanced-budget election promises.
Routine Proceedings
Introduction of Guests - Nackawic Elementary School
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames requested reverting to Introduction of Guests to welcome Grade 3 to 5 students from Nackawic Elementary School.
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.