N.B. finance minister explains why his budget isn't balanced
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Montreal Gazette
4 days ago
- Montreal Gazette
New Brunswick premier tries to sell Quebec on natural gas pipeline
Quebec Politics Quebec Premier François Legault says New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt's pitch for a natural gas pipeline to extend from Quebec City to her province must benefit Quebecers if it's to go ahead. That's as Holt says she's told Legault it will do so. On the sidelines of premiers meetings in Ontario cottage country, Holt said she met with Legault in attempts to push forward her call for what amounts to a new 300-kilometre pipe through eastern Quebec into New Brunswick. Holt wants that pipeline to be part of the Eastern Energy Partnership, a collection of electrical grid upgrades and energy infrastructure projects to be sold to the federal government as a priority nation-building project. Legault was questioned about that possibility in a closing news conference at the premiers' meeting while sitting alongside Holt on Wednesday. 'There's no project right now,' Legault said in French, suggesting the proposal is an 'idea' with no proponent to date. He added that 'if a project is brought forward, I would like to have more economic spinoffs for Quebec. 'It has to be good for Quebecers,' Legault said. Holt then responded that it would be beneficial for eastern Quebec industry. 'We're talking to Premier Legault and private companies and I really appreciate his point of view that they need economic spinoffs,' she said. 'It would be for companies between Quebec City and the border (of New Brunswick). 'I think Rivière-du-Loup is an example. They would also like to have natural gas, so we're working on this so that it might be something positive for Quebecers and New Brunswickers, both.' Additional natural gas infrastructure would help to correct Atlantic Canada's growing dependence on the United States. The region currently relies on natural gas imported from the U.S., with some sourced indirectly from western Canada, although also piped up through the southern border. That reliance increased after the shutdown of Nova Scotia's offshore natural gas production in 2018. Natural gas is now piped from the northeastern U.S. to some markets in Atlantic Canada through a 1,100-km transmission pipe operated by Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. It was initially built to transport natural gas from offshore developments in Nova Scotia to markets in Atlantic Canada and then south of the border, but the pipeline flow was later reversed. Meanwhile, there's no pipeline infrastructure to get any natural gas to northern New Brunswick or eastern Quebec. Natural gas pipeline infrastructure exists from the western provinces through Ontario, but terminates in Quebec City. If that pipeline is extended to New Brunswick, from there, additional pipe could stretch across the northern half of the province to the Port of Belledune, as well as south to Fredericton, connecting parts of New Brunswick to gas infrastructure that is currently only available by truck. Speaking with New Brunswick reporters after the news conference, Holt said 'there are communities that I think would also appreciate natural gas access, like Rivière-du-Loup and others.' 'So François has been clear about what he needs for it to move forward in Quebec and we continue to work with all the different players involved to see if we can make this happen,' Holt said. There were previous plans, now nearly two decades old, to build a liquid natural gas terminal and a pipeline network at Gros-Cacouna, near Rivière-du-Loup. It had the region's support, but was delayed indefinitely due to supply issues. Meanwhile, complicating talks over a natural gas pipeline are other proposals in front of Quebec. In his response to reporters on Wednesday when asked about a natural gas pipeline, Legault brought up prospective projects in Sept-Îles or Baie-Comeau, on the other side of the St. Lawrence River. He also said they were ideas without proponents. In recent months, Legault has mused about building an oil pipeline to an export terminal in Sept-Îles, on Quebec's North Shore, that would carry western energy and then ship it overseas. 'Could we imagine having a pipeline that goes through northern Quebec which could end, for example, in the Port of Sept-Îles?' Legault said in the interview. 'Projects like that were unthinkable before Trump,' he said. 'Quebecers are saying, 'There's no way Trump is going to control the oil we produce in Alberta.' So, can we export it to Europe through Quebec instead of being stuck with Trump? There's openness. I feel things are shifting,' the premier added. New Brunswick's pitch would also aid the potential multibillion-dollar repurposing of the Saint John LNG facility into an export terminal. Holt has previously said her government has been talking to Repsol, the owner of Saint John LNG, and TC Energy (formerly TransCanada Corporation) about projects. Repsol abandoned plans in 2023 to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal in Saint John, citing the cost of shipping gas from western Canada to eastern tidewater. That concept would have used existing pipelines that traverse through the United States. The company kicked the tires in a race to supply Germany and other European countries looking to replace Russian gas amid the war in Ukraine. But the project ultimately went nowhere. The premiers' meetings in Ontario concluded on Wednesday.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- CTV News
N.B. school bus drivers, custodians get wage increase in new collective agreement
Thousands of workers in New Brunswick school districts have agreed to a new collective agreement that will increase their wages by $5 per hour over four years. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1253, which represents more than 3,300 workers, signed the new agreement with the New Brunswick government, according to a news release. Both parties tentatively agreed to the deal in May. CUPE Local 1253 includes school bus drivers, maintenance workers and custodians. The wage increase, which is retroactive to April 1, 2024, will boost hourly wages by $1 in the first year, $1.10 in the second year, $1.30 in the third year and $1.60 in the fourth year, according to the release. The new collective agreement also allows for increases to various allowances, an increase to on-call premiums for weekends and holidays and an adjustment to weekend and split-shift premiums. There is a new bus driver classification that will let districts hire permanent drivers and assign them by geographic location. This move is meant to reduce the number of route cancellations due to driver absenteeism. 'We rely on these employees to keep our education system running smoothly each and every day, whether they are transporting students or keeping the schools clean and in good working order,' said Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy in the release. 'I want to thank the negotiators on both sides who worked diligently to reach a fair and well-deserved deal.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Global News
16-07-2025
- Global News
N.B. rent assistance program stops taking applicants after maxing out in fiscal year
A provincial benefit helping low-income New Brunswickers pay their rent is no longer accepting applications because most of the money allocated for this fiscal year has already been spoken for due to the popularity of the program. That's left some tenants in the lurch, including seniors. Edith Myers helps connect seniors in the rural community of Beausoleil with resources that enable them to stay at home longer. She says many seniors struggle with the rising cost of rent, as most rely on their pensions alone. That's why she was thrilled when she heard about the Direct-to-Tenant Rental Benefit. 'We were just told about this a month ago, so we started telling our seniors that they could get help with that, and of course they were happy with that, so we started to apply for them,' said Myers, who is a manager with the Bien vieillir chez soi Beausoleil program. Story continues below advertisement 'After 10 applications, we got an email that the program was being stopped.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The provincial government announced they were investing more than $21 million in the benefit on May 20. 1:53 Criticism ahead of New Brunswick's three per cent rent cap The email in early June said that all the money for the fiscal year had been allocated, Myers said. In a statement to Global News, Housing NB said there were still some circumstances in which people can receive the benefit. 'Two newly launched referral-based DTT pilot projects — aimed at helping those with disabilities and young people find more affordable housing — are now being processed by staff with Housing NB,' a spokesperson wrote. Housing NB will review any outstanding applications and if new funding is available, those applications will be considered. Story continues below advertisement Matthew Hayes with the NB Coalition for Tenants Rights says the province was hit particularly hard by the pandemic-era rent spikes because there was no rent control at the time. 'The fact that the funding wasn't adequate demonstrates that the Liberal government hasn't taken the housing crisis seriously enough,' said Hayes. While the province currently has rent control, it's tied to individual tenants. Myers says seniors are feeling the brunt of this and are cutting down on essentials, including groceries, to afford housing. 'I know that the younger people have trouble also, but the seniors have worked all their lives and also deserve help,' she said.
