New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, Friday 12 June 2026
On its 52nd sitting day (Friday, June 12, 2026), New Brunswick's 61st Legislature, Second Session, opened with Members' Statements featuring Opposition criticism of the Premier's declining approval rating and alleged broken promises alongside government statements touting legislative accomplishments, followed by Royal Assent in which the Administrator assented to numerous bills including the Appropriations Act 2026-2027. The session then turned to end-of-session valedictory speeches: the Leader of the Official Opposition reflected on the session, the role of opposition, his party's leadership race, and paid tribute to ailing former colleague Ernie Steeves, while Premier Holt delivered a lengthy address recapping the government's 27 bills and its health, education, housing, tourism and economic strategies. The Premier concluded with bilingual closing remarks thanking staff, civil servants, stakeholders and her family, paying tribute to her governing team and the Opposition Leader, and wishing members a restful summer recess.
Members' Statements
Criticism of Premier over alleged retaliation against ridings
Ms. Scott-Wallace
Accused the Premier of pettiness and vengeance, citing the Premier's comment to the member for Saint Croix ('Do you want to lose it?') and listing losses in her own riding including Agropur jobs, Teladoc, and a promised clinic.
Criticism of Premier on climate and corporate interests
Ms. Mitton
Charged that New Brunswickers feel betrayed by the Premier for siding with NB Power executives and American corporations, building a diesel/gas plant in Tantramar, privatizing vet services, and giving the Irvings more Crown land access.
Government legislative accomplishments
Mr. Doucet
Highlighted 27 bills tabled during the session, including property tax reform, pay equity and transparency measures, a strengthened lobbyist registry, mining framework modernization, reduced barriers for skilled workers, an enhanced small business investor tax credit, and patient safety legislation.
Criticism of Premier's 13-point approval drop
Ms. S. Wilson
Listed reasons for the Premier's declining approval, including broken budget-balancing promises, firing vets, closing the vet lab, closing tourism sites, firing school librarians, poor food security, and rising fees.
School lunch subsidy program
Ms. Wilcott
Announced subsidized school lunches ($4 for K–8, $5 for high school, free for families needing support) in addition to the free breakfast program, saving families $900–$2,000 annually.
Criticism of Premier's fondness for American businesses
Mr. Cullins
Sarcastically 'congratulated' the Premier on her 13-point approval drop, citing her ties to American businesses like Foundever, ProEnergy, a Tennessee lobbyist, and AI chatbot companies.
Property tax reform
Mr. Bourque
Defended the government's property tax reform as making the system fairer, more transparent, and more predictable, stabilizing local rates, improving relief programs, and allowing more time to appeal assessments.
Criticism of Premier's broken promises
Ms. M. Wilson
Listed groups of New Brunswickers who have given up on the Premier, including those expecting a balanced budget, transparency, the vet program, a mental health advocate, the pharmacy clinic program, shingles vaccine access, public housing, and $10-per-day daycare.
Teachers' collective agreement
Mr. Robichaud
Announced a five-year collective agreement signed between the government and the New Brunswick Teachers' Federation, affecting over 7,800 teachers and providing measures for recruitment and retention.
Recognition of volunteerism
Mr. Monahan
Recognized volunteers across his riding of Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, including legion volunteers, firefighters, and community meal organizers, thanking them for strengthening communities.
Orders of the Day
Royal Assent
His Honour the Administrator
His Honour the Administrator granted Royal Assent to numerous bills (Nos. 24–51), including the Pay Transparency Act, Mineral Resources Act, Loan Act 2026, and property tax reform legislation, followed by separate assent to the Appropriations Act 2026-2027.
Closing statement
Mr. Coon
Thanked House staff, the retired Sergeant-at-Arms Gilles Côté, pages, interpreters and others, and criticized the functioning of the Legislature, urging updates to House rules and calling on the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers to bring forward proposals in the fall.
Closing statement
Mr. Savoie
As Leader of the Official Opposition, thanked his family, his caucus and constituency staff, fellow MLAs, the Clerks, Hansard, pages, and the former Sergeant-at-Arms Gilles Côté.
Leader of the Official Opposition's end-of-session remarks
Leader of the Official Opposition
The opposition leader thanked departing table clerk Gilles Côté and welcomed Brennen de Carufel, congratulated graduating students, and reflected on the adversarial but respectful role of opposition in holding government accountable. He discussed his party's leadership renewal process, acknowledged the personal and health toll of legislative service, paid tribute to ailing former colleague Ernie Steeves, and closed invoking the provincial motto 'Spem Reduxit' (Hope Restored).
Premier Holt's end-of-session address
Hon. Ms. Holt
Premier Holt gave a land acknowledgement and thanked legislative staff, interpreters, civil servants, constituents and her constituency team. She recapped the government's accomplishments over 18-19 months, including passing 27 pieces of legislation, a physician agreement, childcare and midwifery reforms, the Mineral Resources Act, Pay Transparency Act, property tax changes, 16 collaborative care clinics, a long-term care plan, tourism and minerals strategies, digital health/AI initiatives, and new education plans with breakfast and pay-what-you-can lunch programs.
Premier Holt on measurable progress, transparency and closing thanks
Hon. Ms. Holt
The Premier highlighted third-party measured progress in housing starts, wages, homelessness reduction and youth in education/employment, emphasizing transparency and accountability. She credited collaboration with stakeholders and non-profits, then closed by thanking the Office of Government Members, the Premier's Office team led by Katie, her family, and her caucus.
End-of-session closing remarks
The Premier
The Premier praised her governing team's on-the-ground work and empathy, expressed pride in the session's passed bills and emerging results, and committed to continued work over the summer while acknowledging much remains to be done.
Tribute to the Leader of the Official Opposition
The Premier
The Premier recognized the Leader of the Official Opposition for his service in holding the government to account and providing a strong democracy, acknowledging the difficulty of the work and wishing all members a restful summer with their families.
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.