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4h ago

New Brunswick Confronts Energy Costs and Health-Care Strain as Key Projects Face Scrutiny

Steep power hikes are eroding industrial competitiveness, with bed‑blocking undermining the benefits of new hospital space.

A major water main break flooded a large section of 16th Avenue in Montgomery and Bowness, stranding about 10 vehicles in the flood water, on Tuesday evening, Dec. 30, 2025.
Rick Bowness, seen here in his Winnipeg Jets coaching days, will be returning behind the bench in the NHL, this time with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
City of Calgary workers check over the freshly paved section of 16th Avenue N.W. at the Bearspaw South feeder main repair site on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.
The Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick and a citizen's group are formally asking l'Université de Moncton to collaborate on creating a commission to study changing the university's name.

Overview

  • Natural Resources Minister John Herron urged allowing large industrial customers to generate their own electricity and use NB Power’s grid at reasonable transmission rates to stay competitive.
  • NB Power has raised rates by roughly 23% over three years and plans a further 4.5% increase this spring, which Herron and industry argue disadvantages New Brunswick versus hydro-rich provinces.
  • Herron backed calls from three New Brunswick companies seeking permission to self-generate cheaper power and access provincial transmission to protect investment and jobs.
  • The $200‑million expansion at Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital remains unfinished past its 2025 target, with DTI offering no updated timeline or cost, while Horizon reports 121 patients—about 35% of acute beds—are medically discharged and awaiting placement.
  • Fredericton opened a 30‑day public comment period on rezoning for the Doak Road southeast growth node ahead of a Feb. 18 PAC review, while a Porter flight diverted to Saint John for a medical emergency before continuing to Halifax and Rick Bowness was named head coach of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.