New Brunswickers can expect to see a hike in fees for certain government services.
Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin announced the increases alongside the investments made in the Department of Justice Public Safety, totalling $423 million.
About $7 million has been allocated to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for operational costs, body-worn cameras, and negotiated salary increases.
Further funding of $1 million is going toward technical inspection services to hire more electrical inspectors and improve permit and plan review capacity.
The government is providing $1.1 million to fully fund the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which handles investigations into police conduct involving death, serious injury, assault, or any matter of public interest that may have resulted from actions by an on- or-off duty police officer in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. The funding will also support Indigenous representation.
“Investing in public safety means making sure our law enforcement agencies have the tools and resources they need, while also strengthening accountability and improving how services are delivered,” Gauvin said in a media release from the province.
It also said improvements are coming to the criminal justice system in the form of digital upgrades, virtual bail hearings, and an addictions and mental health court in Moncton.
But it will also follow through with some of the things considered in the pre-budget consultations and in the difficult decisions document surrounding the 2026-27 budget — which is expected to carry a deficit of $1.39 billion.
“Through our pre-budget consultations, we were clear with New Brunswickers that there would be difficult decisions ahead, and adjusting fees was one of the options on the table,” said Gauvin in a release. “Many of these fees have not been updated in years, over 20 in some cases. This step helps ensure we can continue delivering the quality services people rely on every day.”
NB 911 service fee, liquor licensing, vehicle registration and driver’s licensing are all expected to see increases.
Drivers can expect an extra 2 cents per month for their licence. Vehicle registration could increase between $5 to $15 annually. The NB 911 fee will be increased to $2.59 per month to enhance 911 services.
Changes are also coming to probate fees — fees used to validate wills — but the release did not indicate what those would be.
The province said these increases in fees are expected to generate $45 million in revenue.
“We know fee increases are never easy, and that is why we have taken a careful, balanced approach,” Justice Minister Rob McKee said in a release. “We are making sure fees better reflect the cost of delivering services, are comparable to other Atlantic provinces, and limit the impact on New Brunswickers.”
Changes are coming to multiple pieces of legislation:
- Motor Vehicle Act
- Liquor Control Act
- Emergency 911 Act
- Gaming Control Act
- Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act
- Electrical Installation and Inspection Act
- Plumbing Installation and Inspection Act
- Elevators and Lifts Act
- Judicature Act
- Small Claims Act
- Recording of Evidence Act
- Probate Court Act
New fees come into effect on July 1. The NB 911 service fee will come into effect on Aug. 1.
Saint Croix Progressive Conservative MLA Kathy Bockus criticized the move online.
“Buckle up! We learned in main estimates this week that certain fees introduced by the Liberal government have come into effect today,” she wrote. “You will now pay $100 to renew your driver’s licence for four years, up from $90.”
She alluded also to changes expected to come to the Gaming Control Act. Lotteries like the Chase the Ace will be charged a three per cent fee on any jackpot larger than $1,700.
Most new fees will come into effect on July 1. The NB 911 fee will be in place by Aug. 1.
