The New Brunswick government tabled a $1.26-billlion capital budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year on Tuesday, with $70 million in added spending over the multi-year plan presented by the previous Progressive Conservative government.
Finance Minister René Legacy attributed the added spending to inflation.
“It would have been easy to cancel some projects or dramatically depart from the existing multi-year plan,” said Legacy. “Instead, we reviewed existing commitments with a critical eye and updated the capital plan as needed.
“We have developed a capital plan that recognizes the multi-year aspect of the projects that are currently underway, our capacity to address our infrastructure needs, and is fiscally responsible.”
The bulk of capital spending has been earmarked for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, with a budget of $620.2 million.
“More than $500 million is for the maintenance of our roads and bridges, and reflects that many of our transportation projects span multiple years, have experienced delays, and rising costs,” said Legacy.
The Department of Health’s capital budget is budgeted at $226.1 million for the upcoming fiscal year, with $185.9 million for ongoing hospital renovations and additions around the province.
Legacy said work at the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst, and Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton “can be expected to continue into the 2030s.”
Construction projects will also continue in 2025-26 at the Chalmers Hospital, the Saint John Regional Hospital, the Moncton Hospital, and the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton.
Legacy said the Department of Health would also get $40.3 million to replace aging medical equipment.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has been allocated $193.7 million in 2025-26, with $122.4 million for ongoing construction projects at schools across the province, and $14.8 million for the planning of additions, mid-life upgrades, and new schools.
Legacy said mid-life upgrades would begin at Polyvalente W.-Arthur-Losier in Tracadie and Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud in Shediac, with additions at St. Mary’s Academy in Edmundston and École Abbey-Landry in Memramcook.
Another $46.1 million has been budgeted for equipment and ventilation upgrades at schools across New Brunswick.
The official Opposition responded to the Liberal’s capital budget, saying it largely consisted of items “that our government already started.”
“But the details matter,” said interim Progressive Conservative leader Glen Savoie. “What we suspect we’re going to see once we start digging into this, is that projects that were supposed to be done by a certain date may get delayed because they’re not putting enough capital money into it to make sure that a project continues and finishes on time.”
Specific budget estimates from each government department will be presented early next year.
