New Brunswick plans to launch a market diversification plan this fall after U.S. buyers took 90.4% of its merchandise exports in 2024, according to the Canadian province’s economic review.
The government linked the push to U.S. tariffs, which it said threaten provincial jobs and industries. Its Oct. 20 throne speech identified Europe and Asia as regions where it wants stronger commercial ties.
Lt.-Gov. Louise Imbeault delivered the speech at the opening of the third session of New Brunswick’s 61st legislature. It also moved the government’s target for 30 collaborative care clinics to the end of 2027, one year earlier than the deadline in its 2025 speech. The government says it has established 22 clinics since April 7, 2025.
The clinics bring physicians, nurses and other health professionals together to provide primary care. An Auditor General of New Brunswick review of 14 clinics announced from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, found the Health Department could not show that the rollout improved access in areas with the greatest need. The auditor also found that announcements could precede operations and that earlier figures for newly attached patients could not be substantiated.
The government’s count of 22 established clinics does not show how many were fully operating or how many patients were newly attached through them. The auditor said physicians’ voluntary participation also limits where clinics can be established.
The speech promised a health and long-term care workforce strategy by the end of 2026 and a mental health advocate during the current legislative session. The province plans two assessment cohorts a year for internationally trained family physicians, aiming to bring 20 doctors into practice annually. It also cited a C$155 million federal-provincial agreement for health infrastructure over three years.
On housing, the government plans to revise the Residential Tenancies Act and introduce further affordability legislation in spring 2027. It pledged additional funding for infrastructure to support housing, without specifying an amount. Separately, the province’s Aug. 27 financial update projected a C$1.66 billion deficit for fiscal 2026-27, compared with the C$1.39 billion originally budgeted.
The Health Department has an Oct. 30 target to establish consistent clinic start dates and baselines for measuring their performance.
