New Brunswick Budget 2025-26: No Support for Post-Secondary

As a native New Brunswicker, I want to see my home province moving forward. Today’s release of the 2025-26 budget has left me feeling hopeful, with the following commitments standing out:

👨‍⚕️ Health Care
- $30 million to support the creation of at least 10 more team-based clinics.
- $15.9 million in physician remuneration for physicians to maintain their community-based practices.
- $2 million to expand the recruitment of qualified healthcare professionals across Canada and worldwide.

🏫 Education
- $19 million for a school lunch program.
- $4 million to increase teacher recruitment and retention to address the shortage of teachers.
- $200 million over five years as part of a more extensive program subsidizing more than 17,000 child-care spaces across various programs.

🏡 Housing
- $21.1 million for the direct-to-tenant rental benefit, supporting an additional 2,500 households annually.
- $2.3 million to support the implementation of the 3% rent cap and create an outreach and awareness program for tenants and landlords.

While these are significant steps forward, there are no new commitments regarding funding or loan forgiveness for post-secondary students. The last time we saw an increase in the Student Financial Assistance program was in 2023 by $7.6 million through their loans and bursary programs. With the elevated levels of federal assistance set to expire at the end of this school year, the province of New Brunswick must assess their program to ensure it aligns with yearly inflation and the current economic climate. Last year, Nova Scotia completed its assessment with an improved student housing allowance calculation based on the 2022 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Market Survey.

Since the Timely Completion Benefit was removed by the previous Higgs Government in 2019, there has been no attempt at either reviving the last program or creating a new one for debt-burdened graduates like myself. The average debt owed by a New Brunswick student at graduation sits at $33,900, based on Statistics Canada data from 2020. This amount has undoubtedly increased over the past 5 years due to increased inflation and economic crisis. Although the permanent elimination of interest on both the federal and provincial portion of student loans has provided some relief, there is still more to be done to forgive those completing critical programs (i.e. Education and additional health professions).

The same goes for student housing, as there is no mention of specific support to ensure adequate housing supplies for New Brunswick students. Nova Scotia has committed to housing projects for NSCC students in communities across the province, with the first two opening this Fall for 150 students. New Brunswick students will likely go elsewhere for their Education without secure housing options and may reconsider returning home after graduation.

These are just a few key areas that the Government of New Brunswick needs to evaluate for the future of the province's workers. Without adequate support in financial assistance and repayment relief, fewer young people will pursue post-secondary education. Those who do may rethink staying or returning to their home province to work. It’s crucial that post-secondary students are not left behind, as they are the future leaders of the province.