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New Brunswick 2024-25 Budget - Stronger Than Ever: Let’s Keep Building

On March 19th, the Government of New Brunswick introduced its Provincial Budget entitled, “Stronger Than Ever: Let’s Keep Building.” Introduced by New Brunswick’s Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, Ernie Steeves, it is the Minister’s fourth and final budget of this government’s mandate. The 2024-25 Budget includes revenues of $13.3 billion and expenses of $13.3 billion and estimates a surplus of $41 million.  

The 2024-25 Budget aligns with the government’s focus on sustainable public finances while prioritizing healthcare, housing, affordability, and education. It also lays out a path to meet key election commitments and highlight priority areas in the lead-up to the next provincial election later this year.  

As the most significant healthcare budget in the province’s history, nearly $3.8 billion will be invested in healthcare, representing a $1 billion increase in spending from the 2018-2019 budget and a 38 percent increase in the six years since the Progressive Conservatives came into office.  

Now that the budget has been tabled, the Legislature will devolve into a Committee of the Whole and a Subcommittee on Supply to study the contents. Upon completion, there will be a confidence vote in the Legislature on the motion. 

The budget priorities are focused on the following key areas:  

  • Dependable public healthcare 
  • Energizing the private sector 
  • Safe communities 
  • Supporting vulnerable populations 
  • Housing 
  • Building a better education system 

Budget Highlights  

Dependable public healthcare 

  • The budget allocates nearly $3.8 billion to the healthcare system, focusing on developing an innovative and patient-focused system that delivers timely access to health services when New Brunswickers need them. This includes $70 million to help stabilize and ease pressures within the regional health authorities and almost $23 million to fund technology initiatives that will help improve access to healthcare services. 
  • An investment of $20 million is intended to expand collaborative practices and improve access to primary healthcare, consistent with recommendations shared by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Other highlights include: 
  • $562,000 to expand midwifery services in Fredericton and add services in two other communities. 
  • $7.1 million to fund agreements with cataract surgical centers to provide cataract surgery services outside hospitals. 
  • $7 million in additional funding for mental health and addictions services. 
  • $1.4 million to fund additional marketing and programs to attract and recruit domestic and international healthcare professionals. 
  • Working to reduce nursing vacancies by offering an incentive program to fill “hard-to-recruit” positions. 
  • $2.9 million to support screening programs for colon cancer, lung cancer, HPV cervical cancer, and oncology drug funding. 
  • Expanding breast cancer screening to include women aged 40 to 49, benefiting more than 50,000 women. 
  • $2.1 million for additional resources to ensure appropriate care is provided to survivors of sexual or domestic violence. 

Energizing the private sector 

  • The budget invests $3.4 million to help newcomers navigate various immigration streams and provide support such as language training and settlement assistance through non-profit agencies. To support this, investments include: 
  • $50 million for the Enhanced Energy Savings Program to provide eligible recipients with free heat pumps, air sealing, and insulation. 
  • $5 million to support energy conservation for people who use non-electric fuel types, First Nations, non-profit organizations, and low-income individuals and families. 
  • $12.5 million to navigate a complex regulatory approval process and ensure that clean, non-emitting nuclear energy is generated safely. 

Safe Communities 

  • To address increased demands on public safety services as a result of population growth, $6.6 million will be invested to address increased demands for driver testing inspection and enforcement services, accommodate increased court caseloads and inmate population, along with $5.3 million to help make communities safer. 
  • Additional investments in the province’s justice system will improve access, reduce wait times, and provide faster accountability. 

Supporting vulnerable populations 

  • An increase of 3.6 percent for social assistance recipients under the Transitional Assistance Program and Extended Benefits Program. 
  • $29.7 million to increase wages for personal support workers in-home support and exceptional care homes, group homes, community residences, family support, and attendant care. 
  • $2.2 million to increase the per diems in adult residential facilities. 
  • Making amendments to the New Brunswick Income Tax Act to provide additional support to low-income seniors, permanently increasing the base amount of the Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit to $600 from $400, with the annual benefit value indexed to the consumer price index. 
  • Providing a monthly household supplement for social assistance and youth engagement services recipients that will benefit more than 33,000 residents, including more than 10,000 children. 

Housing 

  • The 2024-25 budget includes an increased investment of $68.9 million for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, a 54.1 percent increase over last year’s budget. Investments in affordable housing include: 
  • $22 million for a direct-to-tenant rental benefit for families and seniors in core housing needs for affordability reasons. 
  • $5.5 million through the Canada Housing Benefit to help an additional 1,200 New Brunswick households. 
  • $3.5 million through the Canada Housing Benefit to support survivors of gender-based violence. 
  • $3 million through the Rent Bank to reduce the risk of eviction due to rent or utility bills arrears. 
  • $11 million in permanent funding to respond to the homelessness crisis. 
  • $2.5 million to support the development and repair of rental units. 
  • $2.6 million in support of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. 
  • $20 million through the Regional Development Corporation to help small communities build or enhance existing infrastructure. 
  • $2.5 million through the Regional Development Corporation to support pre-construction work related to affordable housing. 

Building a better education system 

  • The government will increase funding through the Canada-New Brunswick Canada-Wide Childcare Agreement by $7.4 million, bringing the total investment to $150.7 million in 2024-25. This investment aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality designated child-care spaces. Other investments include: 
  • $4.4 million to support children with autism spectrum disorder, providing the proper support at the right time and setting up children for success. 
  • $18.6 million to address challenges resulting from enrolment growth and an additional $24.3 million to address rising operating costs such as energy, transportation, and other services. 
  • $1.1 million to address costs associated with opening new schools in Fredericton and Moncton this September. 
  • $2.5 million to support language learning and ease immigrant students' transition into the New Brunswick education system. 
  • $7.4 million to provide services to help students attend school and address their diverse needs. 
  • $7.8 million to provide support to reverse the effects of instruction time lost during the pandemic. 
  • $4.1 million to implement longer-term measures, such as teacher recruitment and retention, enhanced virtual learning, and leadership development among school leaders. 

Complete 2024-25 budget details can be found here.