More spending, possible relief coming to New Brunswickers in upcoming budget: Finance Minister
New Brunswick Finance Minister Ernie Steeves said New Brunswickers can expect more spending in the upcoming 2022/23 budget, although revenue isn’t as high as last year.
Standing outside what appeared to be an apartment building under construction, Steeves hinted there will be a rent or tax-related nugget within Tuesday’s budget, although he wouldn’t confirm what it would be exactly.
The Blaine Higgs government reneged on a promise to eliminate the so-called double tax due to pandemic pressures two years ago. The practice sees non-owner occupied residential properties charged both municipal and provincial taxes.
But many New Brunswickers have been calling on the province to ban extensive rent increases, or install a cap.
Steeves wouldn’t say if the almost half-a-billion dollar surplus he announced last month is still the case, only that N.B. is in good financial shape.
"I can tell you that New Brunswick is in about as good a financial shape, according to staff - when I recently spoke with staff about this – they said that, financially, they think we’re in the best shaped we’ve been in, in maybe a couple of decades," he said.
He also mentioned they are hoping to provide some relief for New Brunswickers, to help with struggles brought on by inflation.
The wish list is long.
The province now has about a $13 billion net debt. Steeves says that’s down about one billion since he took office.
There are ongoing labour shortages within the healthcare system, demands to increase the pay of some long-term care home employees, and improve access to mental health support.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced Monday the province will be funding more nursing graduate seats at the University of New Brunswick and the Universite de Moncton. The hope is that the funding will add 85 seats across both universities.
The N.B. budget is expected to be tabled around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
23 vehicles towed, dozens of tickets issued as rally marks one-year anniversary of 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa
OPS and Ottawa Bylaw officers issued 192 parking tickets and 67 Provincial Offences Notices in downtown Ottawa this weekend, as people gathered marked the one-year anniversary of the 'Freedom Convoy'.

'COVID is not done,' Canadian infectious disease expert says ahead of WHO announcement
While RSV and flu cases steadily decline in Canada, the World Health Organization is set to announce on Monday whether it still considers COVID-19 a global health emergency, but one infectious disease specialist says we still need to keep an eye on the coronavirus.
YouTube star MrBeast helps 1,000 blind people see again by sponsoring cataract surgeries
YouTube superstar MrBeast is making the world clearer -- for at least 1,000 people. The content creator's latest stunt is paying for cataract removal for 1,000 people who were blind or near-blind but could not afford the surgery.
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion dies at 101
Former Mississauga, Ont. mayor Hazel McCallion, nicknamed 'Hurricane Hazel,' has died. She was 101 years old. Premier Doug Ford said McCallion died peacefully at her home early Sunday morning.
'24,' 'Runaways' actor Annie Wersching has died at 45
Actor Annie Wersching, best known for playing FBI agent Renee Walker in the series '24' and providing the voice for Tess in the video game 'The Last of Us' has died. She was 45.
Ukrainian kids find cellphone signal on hill, set up makeshift school
On a bleak, windswept hillside in northeast Ukraine, three young boys recently discovered a cell phone signal, something difficult to find in their region since Russia invaded their country. and they've set up a makeshift school around the signal.
Russian teen faces years in jail over social media post criticizing war in Ukraine
A Russian teenager must wear an ankle bracelet while she is under house arrest after she was charged over social media posts that authorities say discredit the Russian army and justify terrorism.
Father pushing Manitoba to follow Ontario, Saskatchewan in screening for CMV
Roughly one in 200 babies born in Canada today will have congenital cytomegalovirus, a virus that can lead to hearing loss, intellectual disability or vision loss. But with only two provinces screening newborns for CMV, one father is asking other health-care systems to do more.
Emotional prayer room ceremony marks 6th anniversary of Quebec mosque shooting
An emotional ceremony took place today marking the sixth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting, held for the first time in the same room where many of the victims were killed. Six men died that night: Mamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti were gunned down not long after evening prayers at the suburban Quebec City mosque.