It is freezing in Fredericton today. Honestly, if you're living anywhere between Madawaska and Saint John right now, the cold isn't just a conversation starter—it’s a reminder of the massive utility bills sitting on everyone's kitchen counters. New Brunswick is currently navigating a weird, high-stakes transition period. We've got a Liberal government under Premier Susan Holt that's basically trying to fix the plumbing of the province while the basement is already flooding.
If you’ve been following the news in New Brunswick, you know the "honeymoon phase" for the Holt administration ended roughly ten minutes after the 2024 election. Now, in January 2026, the theoretical promises are hitting the very hard wall of reality. We're talking about a record $1.47 billion capital budget, a healthcare system that is "rebuilding" (depending on who you ask), and an energy crisis that could genuinely change how we pay for life in the Maritimes.
The NB Power "Stress Test" No One Wanted
Let’s get into the messy stuff first. NB Power is at a crossroads, and it’s not looking pretty. There is a three-person independent commission currently tearing through the utility’s books, and their final report is due by the end of March.
Why does this matter to you? Because the government is basically deciding if they should keep the utility as it is, pivot toward privatization, or find a "third way" that doesn't involve your rates skyrocketing another 20% over the next three years.
There's some serious internal drama happening in the cabinet, too. Natural Resources Minister John Herron is currently pushing for changes to the Electricity Act. He wants big players like J.D. Irving Ltd. to be able to leave the NB Power grid and generate their own renewable energy. On the surface, it sounds like a win for green energy. But if the biggest customers leave the grid, who do you think is left to pay for the "fixed costs" of the old infrastructure?
You. Me. The person running a small bakery in Dieppe.
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The utility says letting industrial giants walk away could put "upward pressure" on residential rates. It's a classic New Brunswick standoff: protecting forestry jobs versus keeping lights affordable for seniors on a fixed income.
Healthcare: Results or Just More Rhetoric?
Premier Susan Holt recently said that 2025 was about "building the foundation" and 2026 is about "results." That’s a bold claim when people are still waiting twelve hours in ERs from Miramichi to Moncton.
However, some things are actually moving. We’ve seen:
- The 11th Collaborative Care Clinic just opened its doors. These are team-based centers where you might see a nurse practitioner or a pharmacist instead of just waiting for a GP who may never arrive.
- A $270-million deal with doctors that specifically incentivizes them to work in these team-based models.
- Nursing retention payments of $10,000 that were rolled out to keep our staff from hopping across the border to Maine or over to Nova Scotia.
But then you have stories like the recent one out of Moncton, where a pediatric clinic had to be taken over by Vitalité just to ensure 2,000 kids didn't lose access to primary care. It’s a constant game of "Whac-A-Mole." We fix one leak, and another one springs up in a rural community three hours away.
The 2026 Property Tax Freeze: A Gift or a Gimmick?
If you own a home, you probably noticed your assessment was frozen for the 2026 taxation year. The government did this to "study" property tax reform. It sounds great, right?
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Kinda.
The catch is that a freeze on assessments doesn't mean a freeze on taxes. If your municipality decides to hike their tax rate to cover rising costs for snow removal or policing, your bill is still going up. The freeze is basically a stay of execution while the province tries to figure out how to make the system "predictable, transparent, and fair" by 2027.
Critics (and there are many) argue that freezing assessments actually moves us further away from "true market value," which makes the system even more confusing in the long run. If you bought a house in 2025, you might be sitting pretty, but if you're trying to get into the market now, the lack of transparency is a nightmare.
Real Talk: What’s Happening Right Now
Aside from the big political shifts, the daily news in New Brunswick is a mix of the bizarre and the frustrating.
- Copper Theft is Wild: Down in the Clarendon/Welsford area, thieves recently cut and stripped copper wire from Bell cables. It left about 135 people without phone or internet for weeks. This isn't just a minor crime; it's a massive infrastructure headache that is happening more frequently because of high metal prices.
- Hockey Day in Canada: On a brighter note, Moncton is currently the center of the hockey universe. With "Hockey Day in Canada" events taking place today, January 17, the city is packed. It’s a much-needed boost for local businesses, even if the traffic near the Avenir Centre is a disaster.
- The Anti-Racism Office: The government is finally setting up a dedicated anti-racism office following the systemic racism report. While many Indigenous leaders are still calling for a full public inquiry, this office is seen as a "first step" toward addressing long-standing issues in the justice and healthcare systems.
The Economic "Headwinds"
Let's talk about wood. Forestry is the backbone of this province, but private woodlot owners are hurting. Prices for some wood products are at their lowest point in a decade.
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The U.S. tariffs are still a massive thorn in our side. Even though the federal government (under Prime Minister Mark Carney in this 2026 timeline) has promised loan guarantees, many small contractors feel like they're being left to drown. There’s a $112 million provincial support package meant to help, but when you're a contractor in Carleton-Victoria watching your margins disappear, that money feels very far away.
What Most People Get Wrong About NB Right Now
Most people think New Brunswick is just "standing still." They see the deficit—currently projected around $549 million—and think we’re in a death spiral.
But honestly? The province is actually growing. The population is hitting record highs. The problem isn't a lack of people; it's that our infrastructure was built for the 1990s and we're trying to run a 2026 economy on it. We need 6,000 new housing starts a year just to keep pace, and we're currently struggling to hit that mark because of a shortage of skilled trades and high interest rates.
Actionable Steps for New Brunswickers
If you're living through this, don't just sit there and take the "upward pressure" on your wallet. Here is what you should actually do:
- Check your Property Tax EPP: The government expanded the Equalized Payment Plan (EPP). You can now pay your property tax in 12 monthly installments without penalty. It doesn't make the bill smaller, but it makes the "sticker shock" in May a lot easier to handle.
- Watch the March NB Power Report: When that report drops, there will be a public comment period. This is the moment to scream about your rates. If the government decides to let big industry exit the grid, your voice needs to be in the Premier's ear about who picks up the tab.
- Use the Collaborative Clinics: If you don't have a family doctor, stop waiting for a ghost. Check the GNB website for the newest collaborative care centers. They are often taking "unattached" patients through the NB Health Link system, and the wait times are significantly better than the ER.
- Support Local Wood: If you're building a deck or a shed this summer, ask where the lumber is coming from. Supporting local private woodlots is literally a matter of survival for some of our rural communities right now.
New Brunswick in 2026 is a place of massive potential caught in a very expensive transition. We've got the people, we've got the resources, but we’re currently in the middle of a very messy "renovation." Keep your eyes on the energy file—it’s the one that will determine if this province stays affordable for the next generation or becomes a playground for the few.
Actionable Insight: Sign up for the property tax survey being distributed by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce on January 19. Even if you aren't a business owner, these surveys often shape the "stakeholder" advice that goes directly to the Minister of Finance. Make sure your concerns about the 2026 freeze and future assessments are on the record.