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New Brunswick
Last Updated:
September 2023
Population:
Current majority government:
Premier: Blaine Higgs, Progressive Conservative Party
Number of Members of Legislative Assembly in NB: 49
Progressive Conservative: 29
Liberals: 16
Green Party: 3
Independent: 1
Find your Member of Legislative Assembly here: (3)
Environmental stance of majority party:
The Higgs government allocated $36 million to invest in climate change in the spring 2020 budget, during their previous minority government. They prioritized the funding towards energy efficiency programs, building infrastructure with green technology and community adaptation to flooding risks. They also created the Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship Standing Committee, which is a permanent, all-party committee. (4)
Percentage of 2020/2021 budget estimated to be allocated to the environment:
Ordinary Accounts: operating and maintenance budget
Total 2023-2024 Estimated Budget: $11,01,027,000
Total 2022-2023 Estimated Spending: $10,489,070,000
Environment and Local Government:
Estimated Budget for 2023-2024: $129,550,000 (1.17% of the budget)
Estimated 2022-2023 Spending: $170,076,000 (1.62% of the budget)
$40,526,000 projected funding decrease from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024
Natural Resources and Energy Development:
Estimated Budget for 2023-2024: $122,730,000 (1.11% of the budget)
Estimated 2022-2023 Spending: $150,231,000 (1.43% of the budget)
$27,501,000 projected funding decrease from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024
Capital Accounts: construction and improvements budget
Total 2023-2024 Estimated Budget: $1,017,041,000
Total 2022-2023 Estimated Spending: $829,323,000
Environment and Local Government:
Estimated Budget for 2023-2024: $1,000,000 (0.09% of the budget)
Estimated 2022-2023 Spending: $684,000 (0.08% of the budget)
$316,000 projected funding increase from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024
Natural Resources and Energy Development:
Estimated Budget for 2023-2024: $5,971,000 (0.58% of the budget)
Estimated 2022-2023 Spending: $1,050,000 (0.13% of the budget)
$4,921,000 projected funding increase from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 (5)
Main provincial-level legislation for environment protection:
Clean Air Act (1997) (6)
An Act used to dictate the amount and types of contaminants being released into the air within the province of New Brunswick, as well as mitigating the health impacts of exposure to aerosol contaminants.
Clean Environment Act (1973) (7)
An Act which has identified environmental contaminants and the conditions of their use, defined wetlands, and set out the purpose of the Environmental Council.
Clean Water Act (1989) (8)
An Act intended to protect water sources in the province, allowing for citizens to safely use these resources for drinking and recreation.
Pesticides Control Act (2011) (9)
An Act setting out the parameters by which pesticides can be bought, sold, and used within New Brunswick.
Specific government-based environmental programs:
Environmental Trust Fund (10)
Financial assistance (2.5 million) aimed for projects that seek to protect, preserve and enhance the Province’s natural environment.
Our Pathway Towards Decarbonization and Climate Resilience - New Brunswick’s Climate Change Action Plan 2022-2027 (11)
The province’s plan for addressing the threats and impacts of the effects of climate change, through the achievement of goals like reducing the province’s greenhouse gas emissions to 10.7 Mt by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
A Water Strategy for New Brunswick 2018-2028 (12)
A plan to protect New Brunswick’s natural water resources to maintain it as viable sources of drinking water and home to biodiversity, as well as engaging with different knowledge systems to develop conservation strategies and share information with citizens.
Next election date:
On or before October 18, 2024.
Fun Facts:
In December 2019, New Brunswick created an all-party climate change and environmental stewardship committee, the first of its kind for the province. (13)
In the next 30 years, sea levels are supposed to rise by 20cm in New Brunswick, which is quadruple the amount of flooding currently experienced by the region. (14)
Climate change could lead to a decrease in softwood trees, such as balsam fir, which makes up for 22% of wood harvested each year in New Brunswick. (15)
Also, the quantity and quality of drinking water available within the province is predicted to fluctuate. (16)
In 1825, the great fire of Miramichi resulted in the destruction of approximately ⅕ of the province’s forests, causing the province to miss out on the generational development of old-growth forests like those present on the west coast today. (17)
The provincial government committed to financial support of climate change projects through a $47 million investment in the Climate Change Fund and ncreased carbon tax from $40 to $50 per tonne, in accordance with federal mandates. (18)
The current government has allocated $8.6 million from the NB Environmental Trust Fund into environmental projects in 2022-23 for activities such as environmental research, education and restoration; waste reduction and recycling; and climate change adaptation and mitigation (19)