February 28, 2025
Fredericton, NB – Green Party Leader David Coon and Deputy Leader Megan Mitton today outlined their priorities for the 2025-26 New Brunswick provincial budget. With rising economic pressures and a challenging global landscape, Coon and Mitton are urging the Holt Government to prioritize investments in essential services to build a more resilient New Brunswick.
“New Brunswickers are anxious about the coming year, with the threat of US tariffs and an unpredictable US president who is hostile to Canada,” said Coon. “This is not the time to cut spending just for the sake of balancing the budget. New investments are much needed in our public services.”
According to the provincial government, the US tariffs could result in 4,000 to 6,000 New Brunswickers losing their jobs and reduce GDP by up to three percent. This could be offset by an import replacement strategy as a shift towards local products and services that would create jobs, while increasing tax revenue and GDP.
“The role of a government, especially in a crisis, is to ensure that people receive the support they need,” added Coon. “There needs to be sufficient programs to help get workers and small and medium businesses through this rough period.”
Coon and Mitton have outlined their priorities using the framework proposed by the provincial government budget feedback.
1. Health Care
- Funding to support doctors in hiring the allied health professionals needed to transform their practices into collaborative care clinics.
- Funding for mental health services so care can be provided when it is needed. Specifically, 24/7 emergency services in existing community mental health centres and expanding the hours for the mobile mental health teams, so they become 24/7 first responders.
2. Affordability and Housing
- A mechanism for funding and financing the construction of non-profit, non-market affordable housing
- Funding to enable more New Brunswickers to access energy efficiency programs and reduce their heating costs.
3. Education
- Fair wages for education workers, specifically to address the shortage of bus drivers and mechanics.
4. Economic Development
- A plan with funding increases local demand for local food products, reducing dependence on imports and exports.
- A “Solar for All” financing program to enable more New Brunswickers to access cheap and Green renewable energy.
5. Environment: Action on Climate Change
- A Coastal Defence Fund to protect New Brunswickers who live along New Brunswick’s 2250 km of coastline from the effects of climate change.
- Funding to create an independent Environmental Rights Commissioner to provide an impartial forum where New Brunswickers can raise environmental concerns.
6. Transparent Leadership: Increase Accountability
- Funding to improve New Brunswick’s lobbyist registry, including a free public beneficial ownership registry so New Brunswickers know who is lobbying the government, on whose behalf, and for what purpose.
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