New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Tuesday 24 March 2026
The New Brunswick Legislative Assembly's 29th daily sitting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, featured Members' Statements dominated by reactions to the recent budget. Opposition members criticized cuts to the provincial veterinarian program, closure of rural museums, parks and heritage sites like Cape Enrage, record deficits, and the closure of a Grand Lake bridge in Newcastle Centre, while government members defended budget investments in health care, education, the rent cap, and the electricity rebate. Other statements addressed Tantramar being named the New Brunswick Hockeyville 2026 winner and concerns over a proposed gas-and-diesel power plant in Tantramar.
Members' Statements
Tantramar named NB winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2026
Unknown
A member congratulated Tantramar's civic centre for being named the New Brunswick winner of Hockeyville 2026, earning $50,000 for accessibility upgrades, referencing Meghan Hicks and her son Graeson who now suffers from paralysis after an ATV accident.
Cuts to provincial veterinarian program
Mr. Russell
The member for Miramichi West criticized the government for cancelling vet services with only two hours' notice before the budget and no consultation, calling it a third strike against rural New Brunswick alongside closing museums, parks, heritage sites and schools.
Proposed gas-and-diesel power plant in Tantramar
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton urged the government to abandon a high-cost gas-and-diesel-burning power plant in Tantramar, citing warnings from 331 Dumont physicians and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment about air pollution and negative health impacts.
Budget investments in health care
Ms. Sodhi
Ms. Sodhi praised the budget as a generational investment in health care, citing support from medical professionals, nurses, health care foundations and seniors' advocates, and strong agreements for doctors and nurses.
Cuts to provincial veterinarian program
Ms. M. Johnson
Ms. M. Johnson called the vet program cuts ill-conceived and poorly rolled out, noting a one-year runway is insufficient for veterinarians to establish private practices and raising particular concern for equine owners whose animals will foal after the program ends.
Budget investments in education
Ms. Wilcott
Ms. Wilcott highlighted budget investments in education, emphasizing schools' role in social and emotional resilience and the need for extra resources, support workers and guidance counsellors.
Closure of Grand Lake bridge in Newcastle Centre
Mr. Austin
Mr. Austin criticized the government's decision to close a 75-year-old bridge along Grand Lake and instead build a 5 km road through the woods requiring expropriation of an elderly couple's land, urging the minister to reverse the decision.
Rent cap for tenants
Mr. Bourque
Mr. Bourque defended the government's rent cap limiting increases to 3% per year, describing it as a concrete measure providing stability and helping New Brunswickers keep their homes amid rising cost of living.
Government deficits and debt
Mr. Cullins
Mr. Cullins condemned the Holt government's billion-dollar deficits as the worst in the province's history, warning interest payments would exceed $1 billion per year and burden future generations.
Electricity rebate program
Mr. Mallet
Mr. Mallet touted the 10% residential electricity rebate equivalent to the provincial HST portion and announced a further $98 million budget investment to continue the affordability program.
Budget cuts and Cape Enrage
Ms. S. Wilson
Ms. S. Wilson accused the Premier of running a fear campaign about cuts before choosing a record deficit, criticizing petty cuts to rural attractions like Cape Enrage, which she described as a unique world-class attraction facing elimination.
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.