New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Thursday 19 March 2026
The House resumed the adjourned debate on Motion 24, the budget debate responding to the March 17 budget. Opposition (Progressive Conservative) members delivered extended speeches sharply criticizing the Holt Liberal government's fiscal management—citing a projected record deficit of $1.33 billion, rising debt-servicing costs, and an alleged broken balanced-budget promise—while addressing affordability, red tape, childcare targets, property taxes, health care, education, rural services, and the Premier's trade mission to India. Members offered constructive proposals, including citizen-sourced ideas on resource royalties, procurement, and local economic development, along with a seven-point set of recommendations for restoring fiscal credibility, and one member announced his intention to seek his party's leadership. Mr. Coon then moved to adjourn the debate and Mr. M. LeBlanc moved to adjourn the House, which rose at 2:21 p.m.
Orders of the Day
Debate on Motion 24 — Budget Debate
Don Monahan
Resuming the adjourned budget debate as opposition Finance critic, Monahan thanked constituents and staff, then denounced the Holt government's fiscal record—citing economist Richard Saillant, a projected $1.33 billion deficit described as the largest in provincial history, rising debt-servicing costs to $860 million, an error in the budget estimates he called a breakdown in transparency, and broken promises to balance the budget. He announced he would seek his party's leadership and argued the government's 'Difficult Decisions' consultation reflected improvisation rather than a real plan, offering to submit constructive ideas from engaged citizens.
Resource royalties and fair value for public resources
Unknown
The member argued New Brunswick taxpayers are not receiving fair value from public resources, citing low Crown timber stumpage fees relative to Nova Scotia, reduced softwood pulp royalties that effectively subsidize forestry practices, taxpayer-funded road construction and reforestation for forestry companies, and a mineral royalty system that fails to reflect long-term costs of extraction.
Concerns about arts/culture levy and closures of schools and heritage sites
Unknown
The member opposed a potential levy on arts and culture ticket sales, noting the sector contributed over $609 million to GDP and 7,300 jobs, and warned against closing schools with fewer than 100 students and small heritage/tourism sites, arguing this would accelerate rural decline and privatization would raise costs.
Post-secondary funding uncertainty
Unknown
The member criticized the government's proposed and then reversed cuts to university and community college funding, arguing the uncertainty created will erode enrolment and trust, and pointed to a contradiction in approving over $6 million for government-backed research during a deficit crisis.
Non-profit/community sector and support for local business
Unknown
The member highlighted the non-profit sector's roughly $4.7 billion (11% of GDP) contribution and 62,000 jobs, warned against funding cuts, and called for more support for small and medium businesses and community economic development corporations, citing successful models in Nova Scotia and PEI.
Energy strategy modernization and public procurement
Unknown
The member advocated a diversified energy approach focused on efficiency and renewables (energy investment fund, modest electrical bill levy, PACE program) rather than high-risk megaprojects, and urged directing public procurement toward local businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises.
Health care performance criticism
Unknown
The member argued the government has failed on its top priority, noting roughly 238,000 New Brunswickers waiting for a doctor or nurse practitioner (40,000 more than a year ago), citing a Fraser Institute study finding NB residents bear the highest personal cost while waiting for care ($4,864), and criticizing talk of charging families for discharged seniors in hospital beds and the lack of new nursing homes.
Education record criticism
Unknown
The member criticized the government for lowering student performance targets and firing librarians, cited declining numeracy and Francophone literacy scores and nearly 50% of youth unable to do simple math, and warned about school closure discussions and cost-saving pressures on districts.
Rural services, veterinary care and heritage sites
Unknown
The member argued rural communities bear the brunt of cost-cutting, criticized the plan to phase out provincially run field veterinary services and transfer them to private providers over three years, and condemned reduced support for MacDonald Farm and Ministers Island as short-sighted damage to rural heritage and economies.
Opposition response to the March 17 budget
Unknown
A Progressive Conservative member delivered a lengthy critique of the Holt Liberal government, alleging a record projected deficit despite a campaign promise of balanced budgets, poor rankings on red tape and regulatory burden per the CFIB, rising energy poverty and property taxes (including a constituent's 38% increase), underspending and doubts about meeting the $10-per-day childcare target, and questioned the Premier's India trade mission for yielding few jobs. The member offered seven recommendations—including a credible fiscal stabilization plan, protecting frontline services, ending governance by trial balloons, tackling red tape, and rebuilding public trust—and warned the worst is yet to come.
Adjournment of debate and of the House
Multiple
Mr. Coon moved the adjournment of the debate, and Mr. M. LeBlanc moved that the House adjourn as business for the day was completed; the House adjourned at 2:21 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.