New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Thursday 4 June 2026
On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly held Members' Statements on topics including environmental volunteers, tourism, paramedic thrombolytics funding, health care, affordability, and a Francophone education plan, and Ms. Mitton gave notice of Motion 46 seeking a moratorium on AI data centre development. Members debated and defeated Motion 37 to eliminate hospital parking fees by a recorded vote of 25 to 17. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to Motion 43, an opposition motion by Mr. Austin urging suspension of the provincial excise tax on gasoline and diesel for affordability relief, with government members opposing it on fiscal grounds and Ms. Vautour moving an amendment that the Deputy Speaker ruled out of order as foreign to the main motion.
Members' Statements
Recognition of George Peabody's retirement from Meduxnekeag River Association
Unknown
A member paid tribute to George Peabody, an environmental advocate and key member of the Meduxnekeag River Association, on his retirement after more than two decades as an educator, guide, and mentor to thousands of children and adults.
Tourism and Doaktown museum closure
Mr. Russell
Mr. Russell criticized the Holt government for reducing tourist attractions through what he called the Premier's 'vengeance closures' in PC-held ridings, citing the loss of the Doak House museum in Doaktown.
Failures in supports for vulnerable New Brunswickers
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton highlighted accumulating reports of government failures toward vulnerable people, including the Advocate's report 'Death by System' about Alice, a senior with dementia who died a preventable death, and called for systemic changes and accountability.
Investment in pre-hospital thrombolytics for paramedics
Mr. Johnston
Mr. Johnston announced the government's commitment of up to $2.5 million to equip advanced care paramedics with clot-mitigating thrombolytic medications, bringing New Brunswick in line with provinces like BC, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.
Premier's remarks to farming community
Ms. M. Johnson
Ms. M. Johnson expressed respect for farmers who protested at the Legislature and criticized the Premier's dismissive remarks characterizing the protest as a celebration of agriculture, accusing her of showing contempt for local food producers.
Additions to New Brunswick's permanent art collection
Mr. Doucet
Mr. Doucet recognized the addition of 22 new works, including several by Indigenous artists, to the provincial permanent art collection established in 1968 by Robert Pichette, celebrating diversity and heritage preservation.
Health care funding and Foundever criticism
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames delivered a satirical statement imagining President Trump being briefed on the Premier redirecting health care funding to Foundever ('the guys in Miami') and allowing lower pay for New Brunswick nurses.
Government affordability measures
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Mr. M. LeBlanc listed government affordability actions including a 10% electricity bill reduction, rent cap, school breakfast program, health worker retention bonuses, and E10 fuel changes, and criticized the opposition for voting against them.
Shingles vaccine funding
Ms. Bockus
Ms. Bockus criticized the Holt government for not funding the shingles vaccine, noting New Brunswick is the only Atlantic province without such a program, while running a deficit like other provinces.
New Francophone education plan
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour spoke about participating in the announcement of the new education plan for New Brunswick's Francophone sector, which focuses on modernizing schools and developing literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills.
Response to agriculture protest characterization
Mr. Austin
Mr. Austin sarcastically challenged the Premier's characterization of the farmers' protest as an agriculture celebration and accused her of 'gaslighting' on the deficit, health clinics, and food bank usage.
Routine Proceedings
Tribute regarding injured constables and lost lives
Unknown
A member thanked the minister and reflected on remembering injured constables and families who lost loved ones, vowing never to forget.
Notice of Motion 46 - moratorium on AI data centres
Ms. Mitton
Ms. Mitton gave notice of Motion 46, seconded by Mr. Coon, urging the government to impose an immediate moratorium on current and future AI data centre development, citing energy demands, emissions, and environmental concerns, including the Lorneville project.
Notice of Opposition Members' Business
Ms. M. Johnson
Ms. M. Johnson announced the opposition's intent to finish debate on Motion 37 (hospital parking), then debate Motion 43 (gas tax) and Motion 39 (SHINGRIX vaccine).
Debate on Motion 37 - hospital parking fees
Multiple
Mr. Robichaud argued against eliminating hospital parking fees, citing roughly $8 million in lost revenue and the important role fees play in funding hospital foundations, and said the government cannot support the motion. Mr. Coon and Ms. Scott-Wallace spoke in support, arguing it is punitive and burdensome for families visiting loved ones, and Ms. Scott-Wallace praised the member for Miramichi East and criticized 'dollar store politics' remarks.
Orders of the Day
Debate on gas/diesel affordability motion — alternatives to suspending fuel tax
Unknown
A member argued against suspending the gasoline and diesel tax, citing $4.9 billion in deferred road and bridge maintenance, and proposed instead a windfall profits tax on big oil companies (as done in the UK in 2022) to fund targeted relief for low- and modest-income New Brunswickers.
Active transportation and public transit as affordability solutions
Unknown
The same member advocated investing in active transportation infrastructure (such as a proposed Fredericton pedway across Route 8) and improving public transit, regional rail (VIA Rail/CN), and Maritime Bus service, urging that a person within DTI be assigned responsibility for public transportation, concluding that suspending the gas tax is not the solution.
Opposition defence of gas motion and affordability
Mr. Monahan
Mr. Monahan spoke in support of the opposition's gas motion, criticizing the government for lacking balance and revenue and for gutting the motion via amendment, and cited fuel prices rising roughly 30% year over year and businesses providing fuel cards to employees.
Carbon cost adjustor and E10 benchmark
Mr. Monahan
Mr. Monahan explained the carbon cost adjustor and its removal being blocked by the EUB, disputed government claims that the former government failed to act (arguing E10 was not widely adopted then), cited an RTI request revealing the facts, and characterized the government's account as 'smoke and mirrors,' while noting the rent cap and hydro price increase.
Private Members' Business
Motion 37 — Elimination of hospital parking fees (debate)
Ms. Scott-Wallace
Speaking in support of Motion 37, she shared personal experience of her husband on home dialysis, argued parking fees are a heavy burden on vulnerable patients and caregivers, pointed to Nova Scotia covering fees, and criticized the 'dollar store politics' comment made about the motion.
Motion 37 — Elimination of hospital parking fees (debate)
Mr. M. LeBlanc
Speaking against the motion, he sought to correct the record that most Vitalité hospitals also charge parking with revenue reinvested via hospital foundations, blamed the previous government for cost-of-living inaction, and listed his government's affordability measures such as electricity rebates, rent caps, and E10 fuel benchmark savings.
Motion 37 — Elimination of hospital parking fees (closing debate)
Ms. M. Wilson
Closing debate as mover, she argued the motion is about fair access to health care, noting New Brunswick is the only Maritime province still charging fees, that funds would come from General Revenue as in Nova Scotia, and rebutted the Health Minister's and Moncton East member's arguments, vowing to fix the issue after the 2028 election.
Motion 37 — Recorded vote
Madam Speaker
On a recorded vote requested by Ms. M. Johnson and Mr. Savoie, Motion 37 was defeated 25 Nays to 17 Yeas.
Motion 43 — Provincial excise tax on gasoline
Mr. Austin
Mr. Austin, seconded by Mr. Monahan, moved Motion 43 citing the Liberals' 2022 motion and 2024 campaign promises on gas affordability, and noting regular unleaded gasoline surpassed $2.00 per litre on May 15, 2026.
Motion 43 — Suspension of provincial excise tax on gasoline and diesel
Mr. Austin
Austin moved and spoke at length in favour of Motion 43, urging the government to immediately suspend the provincial excise tax on gas (10.87¢/L) and diesel (15.45¢/L) to match the federal government's fuel tax suspension, arguing high fuel prices worsen the cost-of-living crisis, hurt rural residents, farmers and small businesses, and noting the government benefits from HST charged on top of excise taxes. He contrasted the motion with a nearly identical 2022 Liberal motion, accused the government of hypocrisy and inaction, dismissed anticipated fiscal objections by citing the $3.1-billion loan Act, and warned against removing the carbon cost adjustor that ensures continuity of fuel supply.
Motion 43 — Government response
Hon. Mr. Legacy
Legacy spoke against the motion, welcoming federal affordability efforts but disputing the claim the provincial government had done nothing, citing removal of the carbon tax adjustor, a move to the E10 benchmark that cut roughly 10¢ off gas before Christmas, a 10% monthly electricity rebate, $4.4 million to index social assistance rates to inflation, free school breakfasts, a 3% rent cap, and an expanded equalized payment plan. He also questioned how the opposition defines what fuel price counts as 'high.'
Debate on motion to suspend/reduce provincial fuel tax — Minister of Finance response
The Minister of Finance
The Minister argued the motion is not responsible given global fuel price fluctuations, a $1.39-billion deficit, and difficulty estimating HST revenue impacts (offset by the federal excise tax holiday), noting NB's regulated gas price of $1.76 is the lowest in Atlantic Canada; he said he could not in good conscience support the motion and preferred targeted affordability measures.
Debate on fuel tax motion — Mr. Savoie response
Mr. Savoie
Mr. Savoie criticized the government's $3.1-billion deficit and affordability record, argued the motion is responsible and would deliver direct relief, disputed the Minister's claims about the carbon cost adjustor and the EUB's reversal of its removal, and pressed the government to reduce fuel taxes rather than claim it cannot afford to do so.
Motion 43 – Suspending provincial excise tax on fuel (opposition argument)
Unknown (Opposition member)
An opposition member criticized the government for refusing to give money back to New Brunswickers on fuel, arguing government could implement a targeted measure to lower fuel costs, and accused government of taking the lazy way out by simply saying no.
Motion 43 – Debate against removing the gas tax
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour spoke on Motion 43, explaining that international events drove gas price fluctuations, that higher fuel prices do not necessarily increase net government revenue, and that the gas tax is a stable, essential source of funding for roads and infrastructure. She emphasized the government's balancing act and affordability measures (school breakfast/lunch programs, energy rebate, 3% rent cap, E10 fuel change) and stated the government would not reduce the gas tax.
Proposed Amendment to Motion 43
Ms. Vautour
Ms. Vautour, seconded by Ms. Wilcott, moved an amendment to Motion 43 that would strike the resolution calling to suspend the fuel tax and replace it with a call to continue exploring affordability measures, and revise the preamble to reference government cost-saving measures like the E10 change, 3% rent cap, and School Breakfast Program.
Point of Order and Speaker's Ruling on Amendment admissibility
Multiple
Opposition House Leader Ms. M. Johnson raised a point of order questioning whether the amendment was out of order, arguing it gutted the intent of the original motion; Government House Leader Mr. M. LeBlanc argued it was in order as it addressed the same affordability subject. After a recess, the Deputy Speaker ruled the amendment out of order because its subject matter was foreign to the original motion, which sought to suspend the excise tax on fuel.
Motion 43 – Resumed debate
Mr. Coon
Mr. Coon opposed the motion, arguing that suspending the excise tax is not targeted and would benefit those who consume the most fuel while being costly. He proposed that relief for low- and modest-income individuals should instead come from a windfall profits tax on oil companies, citing the United Kingdom's 37% windfall tax instituted in 2022.
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 Hansard — June 4, 2026 — afternoon (Legislature 61, Session 2), 47 2026-06-04b.