Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 May 15, 2026 CONTENTS GASOLINE TAX / TAXE SUR L’ESSENCE Mr. Monahan Hon. Mr. Legacy Hon. Mr. Legacy Mr. Monahan Hon. Ms. Holt NATURAL GAS / GAZ NATUREL Mr. Monahan Hon. Mr. Herron Mr. Austin CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES / ÉTABLISSEMENTS CORRECTIONNELS Hon. Mr. Gauvin Mr. Austin Hon. Mr. Gauvin Mr. Austin Hon. Mr. Gauvin VETERINARIANS / VÉTÉRINAIRES Ms. Scott-Wallace Hon. Mr. Finnigan Ms. Scott-Wallace

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 Hon. Mr. Finnigan Ms. Scott-Wallace Hon. Mr. Finnigan HOSPITALS / HÔPITAUX Ms. M. Johnson Hon. Mr. Dornan Ms. M. Johnson Hon. Mr. Dornan Ms. M. Johnson Hon. Mr. Dornan MINES Mr. Cullins Hon. Mr. Herron Mr. Cullins Hon. Mr. Herron Mr. Cullins Hon. Mr. Herron Mr. Monahan Hon. Mr. D’Amours Mr. Monahan Hon. Mr. D’Amours HEALTH CARE / SOINS DE SANTÉ Mr. Monahan Hon. Ms. Holt ADDICTION SERVICES / SERVICES DE TRAITEMENT DES DÉPENDANCES Mr. Oliver Hon. Mr. McKee, K.C.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Original] GASOLINE TAX / TAXE SUR L’ESSENCE Mr. Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): Affordability means different things to different people, but all New Brunswickers are feeling the impacts of rising costs. Food prices keep climbing. Electricity rates keep rising. Taxes and fees keep increasing. As for the price of gas, well, that’s thro ugh the roof and going higher.

When those of us in the opposition call for tax relief at the pumps, it’s because that’s what New Brunswickers are calling for now, today, and tomorrow. We’re the voice here in the people’s House, and the voice of the people seems to be falling on deaf ears. People don’t want to hear the Premier telling them what she has done. They are asking about what she’s prepared to do in the present and future tense, not in the past tense. What is the Premier prepared to do to provide tax relief at the pumps as of today, May 15, when the maximum price of gas is at $2.02 per litre? Hon. Mr.

Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the member opposite for bringing this subject up. In fact, we have provided relief. Does he remember back in December when we changed to the E10 pricing? We provided immediate relief, and gas prices went down. When members opposite were crying and screaming for us not to touch the cost of carbon adjustor, we provided immediate relief.

We now have a transparent system that is based on Canadian pricing as opposed to Californian pricing, which we’ve been asking for. (Interjections.) Hon. Mr. Legacy (Bathurst, Deputy Premier; Minister of Finance and Treasury Board; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, L): Absolutely now. It would never have been done if members opposite had still been in power. It got done, and we are providing relief right now. Mr.

Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): I’m sure if we asked New Brunswickers today whether they’re feeling relief at the pumps, we’re going to hear a very different response, Madam Speaker. We can do a poll and check that out. VETERINARIANS / VÉTÉRINAIRES The Premier has done her very best to stay out of the spotlight in her fight with the farmers over the vet program. On Thursday, May 7, we were joined in the gallery by about 100 members of the agricultural community. Despite being asked no fewer than 11 direct questions by the Opposition Leader, the Premier only got on her feet twice to respond.

What message is she trying to send our farmers by remaining seated? Was it that she was too uninformed to answer? Was it that she was too unprepared to form an intelligent answer? Or was it that she was unaware of the consequences her cut would have on food

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 and food security? The Premier has had over a week to reflect on her actions of May 7. Today, I would like to ask the Premier whether she would like to have a do-over. Will she get up and answer the questions, or would she like to remain seated again? [Translation] Hon. Ms. Holt (Fredericton South-Silverwood, Premier; Minister responsible for Official Languages, L): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I understand why my colleague rose.

It’s because I’m really fortunate to have an incredible team of ministers who do good work, know their files, and work for New Brunswickers. We work as a team. I know that isn’t a familiar concept for the official opposition members because it wasn’t the way the former government worked.

As for me, I have the advantage of having people like our Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, who knows exactly what farmers in the province are going through, who works with them every day, and who works with an excellent team at the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, a team that is on the ground with people in the agricultural community. The minister is doing an excellent job. I support him. We look forward to improving services for farmers here in New Brunswick in the years to come. [Original] NATURAL GAS / GAZ NATUREL Mr.

Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): Interestingly enough, the MLA for Beausoleil—Grand-Bouctouche—Kent mentioned that we want to develop the resources that are under our feet. Natural gas is the most realistic opportunity for a resource project to accelerate economic growth in our province. However, with the current Premier in office, it has become our most unrealistic opportunity, and that’s a shame. There is global demand today, and there will be global demand for generations to come. There are unlimited domestic opportunities to use our own natural gas.

We can use it in our homes, businesses, industries, and future projects like fertilizer production. If current world events have taught most of us anything, it’s that developing our own natural res ources is in the best interest of New Brunswickers today and for generations to come. My question is for the Premier. If current world events will not sway her, is there anything that can be done to get her to lift the moratorium on natural gas, or must we wait for the next general election? Hon. Mr. Herron (Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins, Minister of Natural Resources, L): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

I’m heartened to have the opportunity to speak to that particular question. I guess the genesis of that question is the fact that New Brunswick has an abundance of natural resources. This Premier and this government are focused on growing the economy. We believe that there is immense economic potential in our natural

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 resources. I would welcome the member opposite to celebrate the new Mineral Resources Act that was just tabled a couple of days ago. It’s going to enable us to unlock economic wealth, whether that be in Mount Pleasant, in Lake George, or at the Bathurst Mining Camp. The member opposite speaks about the moratorium on natural gas. There are conditions on that moratorium, and I think they are reasonable conditions.

This government is very alive to the fact that there is wealth in our natural resources. We’re going to get to the mining piece first. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker (Hon. Ms. Landry): I recognize the member for Fredericton-Grand Lake, but I remind you that your three questions have to be related. Thank you. Mr. Austin (Fredericton-Grand Lake, PC): Of course, yes. Thank you, Madam Speaker. CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES / ÉTABLISSEMENTS CORRECTIONNELS We know that, here in New Brunswick, crime is a constant issue. It has been a constant issue.

We know that New Brunswick actually has the third-highest rate of violence against women in the country. We know that we also have overcrowding in our correctional facilities throughout New Brunswick. I was very pleased to sign off on the planned central New Brunswick correctional facility in the Grand Lake area when I was minister, and I was very pleased that this government continued that project, understanding the demands on our justice system. My question is for the Minister of Public Safety. Can he please give us an update on that correctional facility? I know that it has been held off until next fall.

Can he confirm that it is still a go and give us an update on that project? Hon. Mr. Gauvin (Shediac Bay-Dieppe, Minister of Public Safety; Minister responsible for la Francophonie, L): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am very happy to get that question and very happy to give an update. First of all, I would like to congratulate the new Mayor of Grand Lake, Peter Dufour. I’d also like to thank the outgoing mayor, Mr. Nicklin. We worked well together. Yes, the amount is $82 million. It’s supposed to be happening in the fall of 2027, the same timeline that we discussed before.

I would like to thank the people of Grand Lake for embracing this project. I understand that it’s important to the member opposite to have this facility in his riding because it will provide work and opportunities for young people to stay in that region. That is always a plus, so it’s good to hear. I want to share something that people might not know. The previous minister knows this. Every day, the minister gets a report on the number of people living in our correctional facilities. Well, right now, every day, I get a report that indicates that our facilities are at between 125% and 130% of capacity.

So, yes, we need that space. I hope that brings clarity. Thank you very much.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 Mr. Austin (Fredericton-Grand Lake, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that answer from the minister. It is a critical issue, and it certainly was when we were in government. We were at around 105% of capacity in our correctional facilities, and the minister just confirmed that it is about 125% now, so it is going up. That speaks to a couple of things: crime as well as enforcement and conviction. I’ve always believed that, if you do the crime, you should do the time.

But I also believe that we have to change lives while people are in our facilities. We did a tour of correctional facilities in Alberta. It has absolutely outstanding programs in its correctional facilities, which is contrary to what we see in British Columbia. That province has taken a completely opposite approach, and there have been dismal, terrible outcomes in British Columbia. I know the Attorney General has spent some time touring some of the facilities in Alberta and has seen the successes they’ve had.

The correctional facility in Minto, in Grand Lake, is supposed to have a therapeutic living unit, one of the first of its kind in New Brunswick. I want to confirm with the minister: Is this still a go? Is it still a priority to change lives for those who go through these correctional facilities? [Translation] Hon. Mr. Gauvin (Shediac Bay-Dieppe, Minister of Public Safety; Minister responsible for La Francophonie, L): Many thanks to the member opposite for his question. The plans haven’t changed. I want to reassure everyone about that.

We certainly believe that we can always improve things in our New Brunswick correctional facilities. I had the opportunity to visit the facility the member opposite is talking about when I was in Alberta with my colleague, the Minister of Justice. To give you an example, because few people here, maybe three people, have visited it, we walked near prisoners who were sitting on the ground and doing yoga. They seemed peaceful and calm. That shows that we can do better if we work together to try to improve peoples’ lives. We believe that too. The plans haven’t changed. Empathy must be shown.

People committed crimes, and that’s why our prisons have a 125% occupancy rate. If the legal system determines that people need to be placed in our correctional facilities, that’s what we’ll do. However, the plans haven’t changed. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to speak on this. Thank you very much. [Original] Mr. Austin (Fredericton-Grand Lake, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The greatest successes that we saw in the Alberta correctional facility that we toured when I was Public Safety Minister were based on who offered the program and how the program was rolled out.

I remember sitting in those same correctional facilities and seeing large 6 ft 3 in men, with tattoos all down their necks, with tears rolling down their cheeks because of how this program has changed their lives. I thought to myself what an excellent example this was of

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 what we could do to reduce the crime rate and to actually tackle the core problem of crime in New Brunswick. The therapeutic living units have great success, as we see in Alberta. They could have great success in New Brunswick, including at the new facility in Grand Lake. However, what is critical to this is who puts on the program and how that program is rolled out. Can the minister confirm that a private entity will put on the program?

When will the RFPs be put out for that specific therapeutic living unit in the Grand Lake area? [Translation] Hon. Mr. Gauvin (Shediac Bay-Dieppe, Minister of Public Safety; Minister responsible for La Francophonie, L): Thank you again for asking a very important question. We’re working on the details right now. When we visited the facility, like the member opposite probably did when he was a minister, we didn’t just visit prisoners. We also met with the service providers. We had the opportunity to meet with them, and they are experts. So, we will continue to have discussions with the people in Alberta.

They have certainly made a lot of progress on the matter . So we will do the same thing. We will try to find someone who can provide these services. The details aren’t finalized yet, but I can assure the member opposite that we’re working on it. We owe it to the people of our province. I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who work in our correctional facilities, because it’s not an easy job. However, empathy must be shown. When people leave correctional facilities, they should have the best tools available. That’s why we’re working on it. Thank you for the questions.

Thank you. [Original] VETERINARIANS / VÉTÉRINAIRES Ms. Scott-Wallace (Sussex-Three Rivers, PC): Thank you. Premier, yesterday, your government voted down our motion to stop and work with our vets and farmers on a mutual path forward. You couldn’t even support that basic ask. Yet, you stand here proudly promoting your school food program, telling New Brunswick families that you are committed to maximizing locally sourced food and supporting local producers.

Premier, the provincial vet field service provides around-the-clock care, vaccines, disease surveillance, and emergency surgery to the livestock farms you count on to fill those school lunch trays. Your government is eliminating this vet program and shutting down the provincial vet lab by 2028. Yesterday, this House gave you a clear off ramp. Your government slammed the doors on farmers, vets, and every family who believes local food means something real. Premier, how can you celebrate local food on the one hand while you cast the deciding vote against the farmers who produce it with the other?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 [Translation] Hon. Mr. Finnigan (Kent North, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker . [Original] The department will continue to listen to and work closely with partners to ensure that this transition is implemented in a way that maintains confidence in the system and meets the needs of the industry both now and in the future. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Ms.

Scott-Wallace (Sussex-Three Rivers, PC): Premier, it was your own government department that announced it wanted to support the role of our food industry in the school food program. It is also your department overseeing the elimination of provincial vets and of lab services. The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick has pointed out that cutting agricultural services is directly contradictory to the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries’ own growth plan, since increasing New Brunswick’s self - sufficiency and land in production are not possible if we lose more farms.

To the minister: Your own department’s growth plan and your own department’s budget cuts are in direct conflict. Which one actually reflects your government’s priorities? [Translation] Hon. Mr. Finnigan (Kent North, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker . This transition reflects an evolution towards a veterinary service delivery model that will align the New Brunswick model with those in the rest of the country, except for Newfoundland and Labrador .

The department will continue to listen and work closely with its partners to ensure that this transition is implemented in a way that maintains confidence in the system and meets the needs of the industry, both today and in the future. Thank you, Madam Speaker . [Original] Ms. Scott-Wallace (Sussex-Three Rivers, PC): Premier, let’s look at Resolution 61 that was passed at your own NB Liberal Party convention by your own members. Your party resolved that your government would work with stakeholders to revive abandoned farmland for agricultural needs, encourage value-added farmed goods, and grow the industry.

Your own party members recognized that food insecurity is rising, farmland is being lost, and government must be a partner in reversing that trend. Today, the total number of farms in New Brunswick has already declined by 18%. Last year, farm income was negative, and your government is now cutting the vets and lab services that remaining farmers depend on to legally operate. You are not growing the agriculture sector. You are accelerating its collapse while your own party convention told

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 you to do the opposite. Premier, which Liberal Party is our farmers supposed to believe: the one that passed Resolution 61, or the one running this government? Hon. Mr. Finnigan (Kent North, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. We understand that this change is difficult.

However, we continue to encourage ongoing, productive dialogue to support a sustainable— sustainable—veterinary model for New Brunswick and for the whole agriculture sector. [Translation] Thank you, Madam Speaker . [Original] HOSPITALS / HÔPITAUX Ms. M. Johnson (Carleton-Victoria, PC): Madam Speaker, on April 19, baby Liam came into this world on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway halfway between Woodstock and Fredericton. He was welcomed into the world by his dad, Fernando, and delivered into the arms of his mother, Mariah.

Thankfully, they had called 911, because Liam needed help clearing his airway, and an ambulance arrived in time. I’m worried for the expectant moms and their babies who live in my riding. For example, let’s look at Plaster Rock. It takes an hour to get to the Upper River Valley Hospital and another hour to get to Fredericton. It’s an hour at the best of times, and, t oo many times, it takes two hours. I was glad to learn that the Premier is aware of Liam’s story, so I am going to direct my question to the Premier herself.

Since April 19, has the Premier given any new and urgent direction to her Health Minister to get the Upper River Valley Hospital the staff it needs? Hon. Mr. Dornan (Saint John Portland-Simonds, Minister of Health, L): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise. The Premier communicates with me on a very regular basis. There are no surprises. We have been directed to help the Upper River Valley Hospital, and we are. We have a new, long-term contract with a locum who is able to do deliveries.

We have staffed this place with newly recruited nurses, including specialized nurses in obstetrics and labour, and we have anesthesia coverage. So yes, the Premier has communicated with me. Yes, we are taking action. I am very pleased to report that today. Ms. M. Johnson (Carleton-Victoria, PC): Well, now that the government members are doing work at the Upper River Valley Hospital, maybe they can attend to Miramichi next. Just the day before Liam arrived, baby Charlotte made her entrance on the sidewalk outside the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital.

Charlotte’s dad, Nick, was there to welcome her and deliver her to her mother, Lauren.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 Luckily, both stories had happy endings, with babies and moms doing well. Maybe Liam and Charlotte will meet someday. We’re thankful that they are okay, and they have given the Premier two examples in two days of why she must do something about the recruitment efforts that have failed to keep the Upper River Valley Hospital’s obstetrics department open all the time. As I said, when it’s closed, some of the moms in my riding have to drive for two hours to the Chalmers hospital.

Last Friday, the Health Minister would not speak to the media, which is not at all out of the ordinary for this government. However, I must ask: Was this media snub at the direction of the Premier? Did the Premier order code silent? Hon. Mr. Dornan (Saint John Portland-Simonds, Minister of Health, L): Madam Speaker, I’m always welcoming questions from the media. They do a good job. We have arranged for coverage for the Upper River Valley Hospital, and we are planning to mitigate the chance of that happening again in Miramichi. We’re very concerned about babies who d o not reach the hospital.

We are trying to mitigate that by having firm plans for patients to receive obstetrical care when it’s not available at the Miramichi hospital. Ms. M. Johnson (Carleton-Victoria, PC): Well, in 2024, it was not the Health Minister making the big health care promises. Those came right from the Premier herself. Not to hoist the Premier with her own petard or anything, but I’d like to share a reading from the Liberal election platform, where the Premier claimed she was focused on health care: Use hospitals to their fullest potential by increasing the time that operating rooms are open.

It says: “Use hospitals to their fullest potential”. That is the promise the Premier made. I wonder whether she checked with anyone to learn what it would take to use hospitals to their fullest potential. If she had, she would have been told by medical staff. Will the Premier commit to this House and, by extension, to the people of New Brunswick, that she will personally get involved in the failed recruitment efforts, to keep obstetrics open at the Upper River Valley Hospital and in Miramichi? Hon. Mr.

Dornan (Saint John Portland-Simonds, Minister of Health, L): Madam Speaker, I am glad to say that the Premier is as intimately involved as I am. She’s a good team player. She has visited the Upper River Valley Hospital. She has personally intervened. We have more staff there. We’ve recruited nurses. We’ve recruited doctors. We’v e recruited locum physicians. Yes, she’s personally involved. She plays a strong leadership role, and I’m glad to be part of that team. MINES Mr.

Cullins (Fredericton-York, PC): Madam Speaker, the federal government is now proposing so-called “economic zones” to fast-track approvals for major projects across Canada. One of the projects already identified on the federal major projects list is the Sisson mine, in my riding. That raises an important question: Who’s really in control? Is it New

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 Brunswick or the federal government in Ottawa? If these economic zones allow projects to bypass normal federal oversight and move directly through Cabinet approval, then much of the responsibility for environmental review, public consultation, and securing social licence will fall on this province. I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: Has the department had discussions with the federal Major Projects Office regarding the Sisson mine?

Will any part of New Brunswick be designated an economic zone? Hon. Mr. Herron (Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins, Minister of Natural Resources, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I want to thank the member opposite for the question. I want to assure the honourable member that, in all of our approaches with respect to mining and the development of natural resources, we’re always going to test project proponents at every corner. Sure, we want to move quickly from a permitting perspective, but by no means are we going to circumvent any type of analysis with respect to environmental review.

We know we need to do that in order to maintain social licence in this particular sector. The question, as I see it, is very, very constructive. However, again, no processes will be circumvented when it comes to environmental reviews. Thank you. Mr. Cullins (Fredericton-York, PC): Madam Speaker, there is currently legislation before this House designed to fast-track mining approvals, while, at the same time, the federal government is proposing economic zones to accelerate major projects through Ottawa.

It appears that these two initiatives are working hand in hand to push projects forward with less scrutiny, less consultation, and fewer opportunities for communities to have their voices heard. Let me be clear. A strong mining sector can create jobs and economic growth for New Brunswick, but communities deserve meaningful consultation, proper environmental assessments, and confidence that these projects are being developed in their best interests. If Ottawa’s going to fast -track decisions through the federal Cabinet, then the responsibility falls on this province to stand up for New Brunswickers.

I ask the Minister of Natural Resources: What is your plan to ensure New Brunswick remains in control of these decisions? How will you protect local communities when pressure starts coming from Ottawa? Hon. Mr. Herron (Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins, Minister of Natural Resources, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Again, I would like to reiterate that we are not going to circumvent any type of environmental review or any of those processes. We’re going to make sure we maintain social licence by doing the appropriate environmental analysis. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr.

Cullins (Fredericton-York, PC): Madam Speaker, after a major announcement on the Sisson Project last November, this government has largely gone silent. Months have passed without any public engagement or updates for local residents, conservation groups, or First Nations communities. The people of Fredericton-York want answers. They want to know the current plan for the site and what impact this project would have on the Nashwaak watershed, a watershed that flows through the Saint John River and ultimately to the Bay of Fundy. Communities deserve the opportunity to share their concerns, ideas, and visions on

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 how this project should proceed. The minister has claimed that this new mining legislation supports consultation, so I ask this: When is the next public consultation session scheduled with affected communities and First Nations? If Ottawa decides to fast-track this project tomorrow, will this government be prepared to defend New Brunswick’s interests, or is the plan, once again, ready, fire, and aim? Hon. Mr. Herron (Hampton-Fundy-St.

Martins, Minister of Natural Resources, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think the honourable member understands that the EIA, approved by this province, contains conditions. All those conditions will be met. Thank you. TOURISM / TOURISME Mr. Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): I agree with my colleague from Miramichi West. Nobody likes to feel as though they have been used, especially by the Premier. Nobody likes to feel as though someone has taken advantage of them either. That’s what the Premier has done to the people of Doakt own.

Again, the mayor said: We had the Premier, Tourism Minister, and Lieutenant-Governor all come out on New Brunswick Day. They gave us money. They did a tour of Doak House, and they said they were so impressed. They wanted to work with us and all that stuff. Then, the election was over, and the PC candidate got in. Boom—there wasn’t a peep or anything from them whatsoever. Will the Premier offer an apology to the people of Doaktown for using them as a political prop? [Translation] Hon. Mr.

D’Amours (Edmundston—Valle e-des-Rivie res, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Military Affairs; Minister responsible for the Research and Productivity Council, L): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I can assure you that we will work with local groups to continue moving forward. New Brunswick tourism industry officials work with the people best positioned to move files forward. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. [Original] Mr.

Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): New Brunswick’s 2026 summer tourist season will have three fewer attractions thanks to the Premier. The revenge closure of North Lake Provincial Park and the vengeful closure of Doak House are understood by all New Brunswickers. They believe the reasons for both closures smell rotten, but they understand. On the one hand, they understand that the Premier is cancelling the former Premier. On the other hand, they understand that the Premier is punishing the people of Doaktown and Miramichi West because they had the wisdom to vote PC.

The closure of Cape Enrage is a different matter indeed. Cape Enrage has seen up to 45 000 visitors, averaging around 25 000. This is very far from the 5 000 number, which is the

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 excuse the Holt government has been using for other closures around the province. Why Cape Enrage? Why does the Premier have a hate on for Cape Enrage and the people of the waterside area? Premier, give us a reason. [Translation] Hon. Mr.

D’Amours (Edmundston—Valle e-des-Rivie res, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Military Affairs; Minister responsible for the Research and Productivity Council, L): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The tourism economy is very important for the entire province. We will continue to develop tourism in New Brunswick, and, in specific cases, we will continue to work with local groups to move files that are important to them forward. Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Original] HEALTH CARE / SOINS DE SANTÉ Mr.

Monahan (Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills, PC): Premier, your government members have spent months congratulating themselves on health care, boasting about investments, and patting themselves on their backs while the system crumbles right beneath their feet. The President of the New Brunswick Nurses’ Union (NBNU) is telling us what your government won’t: Nurses are leaving because they’re being worked into the ground. Premier, you stood in this House yesterday and claimed that New Brunswick has a nursing turnover rate of 1%. Premier, babies born on roadsides aren’t a tragic anomaly.

Under your government, they’re becoming a pattern —a systemic pattern. How many more women have to deliver on the side of the highway before you stop celebrating a system that is failing them at their most vulnerable moment? Hon. Ms. Holt (Fredericton South-Silverwood, Premier; Minister responsible for Official Languages, L): Madam Speaker, our government has made it a priority to rebuild relationships with nurses and to recruit nurses to this province. This year, we recruited over 829 new nurses to this province precisely to respond to that question.

ADDICTION SERVICES / SERVICES DE TRAITEMENT DES DÉPENDANCES Mr. Oliver (Kings Centre, PC): Thank you, Madam Speaker. We heard about the new addiction treatment centre on the Kingston Peninsula back in December. I’d like to ask the minister responsible where we are with that. Have any permits been issued? Has the proponent given us an update on when it expects the centre to open? Any information you have would be appreciated by those living in proximity to the facility, as they have asked questions many times and are still waiting for answers to some of them. Hon. Mr.

McKee, K.C. (Moncton Centre, Minister of Justice; Attorney General; Minister responsible for Addictions and Mental Health Services; L): Thank you very much,

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 Madam Speaker. Thank you to the member opposite for the question. We had an engagement session in January, and we continue to have those engagements. They are ongoing. We’ve met with local residents, and we will continue to work with them. We gave them the information they were looking for about land use, water runoff, and things they were concerned about. The leaders from Edgewood have been very responsive to the hundreds and hundreds of emails from local residents.

I’m convinced that this will be a great centre. It’s going to add 50 new treatment beds to the provincial offering of addiction treatment, and it is much needed. We are continuing the work. A needs-based analysis was completed, and we are analyzing that data. Moving forward, there will be a strategy to continue to build out our addiction treatment network across the province to ensure that everybody has access to that help when they ask for it. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.