Labour Market News

Want to find out more about local or provincial labour market history? The labour market news archive may be a good place to start.

In this section, you can browse archived news titles, whose links are no longer functional, for up to one year from the current date. The archived news can help you understand the labour market trends in geographic areas and industries that are of interest to you.

• Week of 2024-03-22 to 2024-03-28

  • Sussex, Grand Bay-Westfield, and the Village of Harvey were collectively approved to receive up to $5.1M under the Housing Accelerator Fund. The Town of Sussex will get $3.2M and plans include alternative housing and flood mitigation strategies.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association wants to recruit and train more foreign-trained veterinarians, as well as establish a testing centre for internationally educated vets. The industry is struggling with labour shortages and mental health issues.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The national minimum wage will increase from $16.65 up to $17.30 an hour on April 1, a 3.9% cost of living increase. This applies to all federally regulated businesses and will affect about 30,000 employees nationwide.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The bookstore Coles will close its Saint John location in McAllister Place mall on April 6. Coles has been in the mall for over 45 years and is owned by Indigo, which also has a bookstore at East Point.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Four of Canada’s major banks are forecasting that N.B will finish last among Maritime provinces in economic growth again in 2023 and in 2024. Statistics Canada figures for real economic growth from 2007 to 2022 was 10.4% for N.B, 19.7% for N.S., and 36.1% for P.E.I.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will invest $430M toward the improvement to health-care in New Brunswick. Most of the money will support the province’s three-year action plan to recruits and train health workers and the rest will go into long-term care.

    thewave.ca

  • The New Brunswick Museum will receive $108M in federal and provincial funding in order to update and expand the museum. The 134,000 ft2 facility will remain in the same area of Saint John and work is expected to be completed in 2026, at a cost of $150M.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2024-03-15 to 2024-03-21

  • The N.B. government released its 2024-25 budget, which will see a record $3.8B spent on health care and an increase to low-income seniors’ benefits. Funding will go to recruit more nurses and teachers, as well as reduce barriers for foreign-trained workers.

    thewave.ca

  • The New Brunswick Dental Society says that 78% of its members reported that they are not interested in opting into the federal government dental plan. The main concern is the extra paperwork and processes required, as some offices face staff shortages.

    Miramichi Leader

  • A $3M affordable senior housing project is being proposed to be built on Second Avenue in the village of McAdam. Once approved the project manager believes that the 30 small homes could be completed by the end of the year.

    thewave.ca

  • New Brunswick will join many other parts of Canada by introducing mandatory training for new transport truck drivers. Programs are available at various institutions across the province and will include in-class, in-yard, and on-the-road training.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Horizon Health Network projects that it turnover rate will go from 8.6% last year to 7.9% this year or about 200 fewer people leaving. Horizon has also hired 617 registered nurses, 283 licensed practical nurses and 150 physicians this fiscal year.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government is giving $400K to Saint John’s Victory Advanced Technologies to help open a facility to produce powertrains for electric vehicles. The company is in an early stage, but plans to create manufacturing, engineering and other jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation’s proposal to build a 7,000 ft2 live lobster holding facility in Chamcook, was voted down by the Saint Andrews’ planning advisory committee. The area allows light industrial use, but this facility was not deemed compatible.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Base Gagetown will receive $75M in funding for two projects. One project will see $55.6M in lighting, heating, power and geothermal upgrades to reduce greenhouse gases and is expected to create 200 construction jobs. A $19.7M solar farm will also be built.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Cannabis NB recently announced it was opening three new urban stores, in an attempt to take away from the illegal market. Twenty five employees will be hired for the new locations in uptown Saint John, downtown Fredericton, and for Mountain Rd in Moncton.

    ctvnews.ca

  • A new report by the recruitment firm Hays says 71% of Canadian workers want to leave their job and find a better opportunity this year. The Hays report states that nearly half are unmotivated to work, and are dissatisfied in their role, pay and benefits.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2024-03-08 to 2024-03-14

  • The president of Covered Bridge Chips states that he wants to rebuild a replacement factory soon, following the recent fire. The company is exploring options to get its 185 employees back to work and may even use another company's plant temporarily.

    cbc.ca

  • Cannabis NB has announced that it will open three new stores in Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton in the coming months. According to a spokesperson, job opportunities have been posted on social media.

    thewave.ca

  • New Brunswick's child, youth and seniors' advocate issued a 198-page report making recommendations on how to improve the province's struggling long-term-care sector. The report recommends new service standards and more responsive local authorities.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.B. Medical Society and the N.B. Nurses Union developed a pre-budget report with six priority areas costing about $600M. Recommendations include more team-based clinics, better staff retention, and engaging more with health-care professionals.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government has decided to cancel the 2024 Maritime elver season for harvesting baby eels, as it was unable to control illegal fishing. Fisheries and Oceans states it needs more time to put in regulations to crack down on the illegal harvest.

    cbc.ca

  • Hotels and restaurants in northern N.B. report having a poor winter tourist season, due to a lack of snow. The area relies on visiting snowmobilers, but poor conditions led to a number of winter activities being canceled, including a major snowmobile event.

    cbc.ca

  • The trucking industry in Atlantic Canada wants the government to do more about companies that employ drivers as independent contractors. This practice allows companies to make more money because the drivers don’t get benefits like sick days or overtime.

    cbc.ca

  • The Shediac Neptune Drive-in Theatre is reopening under new ownership on May 2024, along with a new eatery called the Morse et Marteaux BBQ Smokehouse. The drive-in has been closed since 2022 and the owners have been doing renovations and updates.

    cbc.ca

  • Slocum & Ferris, a down-home eatery in the Saint John City Market, will close down after 129 years of operation. The owner stated that foot traffic never returned to pre-COVID levels. Other eateries in the market have also closed in recent years.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-01 to 2024-03-07

  • The N.B. government is telling Sussex residents impacted from the recent flooding that they can register what damage occurred to see if they are eligible for disaster financial assistance. More than 12 streets were closed and 24 people had to evacuate.

    cbc.ca

  • The Eastern Recyclers Association says that about six small bottle depots will likely go out of business, due to new changes to the beverage container recycling program. Caissie's Recycling in Rogersville announced that it will close at the end of March.

    cbc.ca

  • Fredericton-based City Line Holdings plans to add about 340 new housing units over the next few years in Saint John. City Line plans to renovate the former St. Vincent's and St. Patrick's schools, as well as build 226 units on Loch Lomond Road.

    cbc.ca

  • An additional 33 residential units are being planned for Saint John’s Waterloo Village neighbourhood. The former Roman Catholic Diocese offices would have to be rezoned, which would see 25 units in the existing building plus an eight-unit addition.

    thewave.ca

  • WorkingNB and Service Canada will host an event to help employees impacted by the fire at the Covered Bridge Potato Chip production facility in Hartland. The facility employed about 100 people, who may require income support and counselling.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Body Shop Canada will close nearly one third of its 105 Canadian locations, with four Martime locations closing in in Saint John, Dieppe, Sydney, and Truro. The company is seeking creditor protection and has closed all of its U.S. operations.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Factory in Hartland was destroyed in a fire, which saw 20 to 30 employees evacuated. The factory is a family-owned business, which grows 500 acres of potatoes for chip manufacturing, and is a major local employer.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Fredericton has granted the new owners of Sunset U-pick, a 10-year lease for the urban strawberry farm property on Ferris Street. A ten year lease from the city gave the owners stability and helped in getting financing from lenders.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-23 to 2024-02-29

  • Vitalité Health Network says the severe staffing shortage in 2022 is what led to signing $158M in private agency contracts to use travel nurses. Although Vitalité has a number of new hires, it will take until the winter of 2026 to phase out travel nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • Fredericton council have decided to spend $1M in order to extend Brown Boulevard with road and municipal services, which would allow access to a plot of land. The hope is that it will spur developers to create up to 200 new apartment units in the area.

    cbc.ca

  • Fredericton city council have approved zoning changes to allow residential housing units to be built in commercial areas in two parts of the city. Part of the focus of workforce housing is allowing developers to create smaller more affordable units.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton council has voted in favour of a 25 year higher-density urban growth strategy, which will focus on 11 sites in the city. The report projects a 42% population increase, which will require an additional 16,000 housing units over current levels.

    cbc.ca

  • The Horizon Health Network says it is working to eliminate the use of travel nurses over the coming months. At its peak in July 2023, the health authority employed 250 full-time travel nurses, but now employs around 80 travel nurses.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Saint John council has approved a 226-unit development at 1440 Loch Lomond Road, which will see four multi-unit buildings and 18 townhouse units built in the city’s east side.

    thewave.ca

  • Calgary-based Lynx Air has ceased operations as of Feb. 26, after filing for creditor protection. The low-cost airline began in 2022 and flew out of Fredericton last summer. A Lynx spokesperson attributed the closure to growing financial pressures.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-16 to 2024-02-22

  • Moncton council approved multiple housing developments, including an 18-storey tower downtown, a 458 unit development off McLaughlin Drive, and 24 rowhouse units on Ryan Street. The 18-storey tower beside St. Bernard's Church is expected to begin this year.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will spend over $500M on a new Atlantic Science Centre on University Avenue in Moncton, which could bring hundreds of jobs and scientific research projects. The Moncton region was the fastest growing metro population in Canada in 2022.

    Moncton Times & Transcript

  • New Brunswick will be capped off at 5,580 international students next year, however Ottawa is also placing a cap on the number of acceptance letters that can be sent out. While the national acceptance rate is 60%, N.B.’s rate is much lower.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John council has approved the rezoning application for the developer who plans to turn the former St. Patrick’s School into a 37-unit residential building. The developer hopes to have people moved in by late 2024 or mid-spring 2025.

    thewave.ca

  • Quispamsis has opened a new walk-in and urgent care clinic to help bridge the shortage of veterinarians and technicians in the province. There are only five veterinary schools in Canada and limited spaces, and it takes about eight years to become a vet.

    globalnews.ca

  • Ottawa is investing $92K in ArtsLink NB through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. The money will help ArtsLink NB deliver its CATAPULT Arts Accelerator, whose aim is to increase the number of artists and entrepreneurs.

    canada.ca

  • The Atlantic provinces signed a new Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism, which will provide $30M in funding over the next four and a half years. The agreement aims to expand tourism year-round. Tourism in the region employs more than 111,000 workers.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The federal government will invest $500K through ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to help N.B-based The Smart Energy Company (TSEC) market and sell its innovative micro solar farm product to agricultural operations.

    canada.ca

  • According to the latest Rental Market Survey released by Turner Drake & Partners, Saint John has the highest office vacancy rate (24.81%) among N.B.’s three largest cities. The vacancy rate in Fredericton is at 17.63% and 14.31% in Moncton.

    thewave.ca

  • Science East, Fredericton's science museum, will temporarily close to the general public and reduce its staff to a core group. The museum cited financial and organizational issues, but will continue to deliver outreach programs and is working to rebuild.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-09 to 2024-02-15

  • Bell Media’s parent company BCE Inc. states that it will sell 45 of its 103 regional radio stations and layoff 9% of its workforce or 4,800 jobs. CTV and BNN Bloomberg will see immediate cuts. Five Atlantic radio stations will be sold to Maritime Broadcasting.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John-based Coast Tire & Auto Service and Andy’s Tire Group, which is headquartered in Halifax, have announced a merger. The new group will have roughly 500 staff, 46 stores, three distribution centres, and three retreading plants across Atlantic Canada.

    thewave.ca

  • Fredericton is proposing new amendments to the municipal plan and zoning bylaw, which would allow affordable housing to be mixed into commercial strips in two parts of the city. The locations were chosen based on nearby amenities, transit, and employment.

    cbc.ca

  • The Dept of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is proposing to close the commercial Maritime fishery for baby eels or elvers in 2024. DFO said it is not possible to have a safe and sustainable elver fishery in 2024, after unauthorized fishers flooded the market in 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada's actors, directors, musicians and the groups representing them have expressed major concerns over the livelihood and reputational threats Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses to them and have called on the Federal Government to include industry protections in its proposed AI legislation.

    citynews.ca

  • Mount Allison University will undertake a $85M project to renovate and update its 54-year old campus library over a five-year period. Construction of an interim library will begin this summer, which will later be converted into an athletic complex.

    cbc.ca

  • The town of Quispamsis has hired Dillon Consulting to do a housing-needs assessment and to gather community input in order to meet the needs of residents. Quispamsis is a fast growing community, which may require higher-density buildings and other amenities.

    cbc.ca

  • Oromocto will get its first nursing home in 2026, which will be operated by Enhanced Living Inc. The facility will be a 60-bed home. It is hoped that staff will come from Oromocto's younger population and not be impacted by the N.B. staffing shortage.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-02 to 2024-02-08

  • With the significant growth in immigration, New Brunswick schools have been challenged to hire more staff and find space to deal with the flow of new students. Schools have had to add more educational support teachers and budget more money for tutoring.

    cbc.ca

  • Kyndryl Canada, a global technology firm, is planning to hire more than 40 remote and on-site positions throughout New Brunswick. The company provides hybrid cloud solutions, along with security, resiliency, data and artificial intelligence services.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The University of New Brunswick has a new pilot project, which allows some licensed practical nurses to work toward their bachelor of nursing degrees within their own communities using virtual reality. Its currently being offered in Moncton and Miramichi.

    cbc.ca

  • A Fredericton man has developed a niche market to help with affordable housing. His business, First Rate Renovations, partners with mini-home parks to renovate and restore mini homes and bring them to market at a considerable discount.

    cbc.ca

  • The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick has announced that it will open a new childcare centre at 20 Millenium Drive in Quispamsis. Expected to open in the spring, it will be next to the Valley retirement home, and will allow seniors to volunteer.

    thewave.ca

  • CMHC’s yearly rental market survey states that New Brunswick’s vacancy rate was 1.5% in 2023, the lowest its been in over 30 years. According to a UNB researcher, a healthy vacancy rate is 4.0%. Rent in N.B. also grew by 10% between 2022 and 2023.

    globalnews.ca

  • The sorting centre Atelier des Copains located in Haut-Madawaska, having failed to reach an agreement with Circular Material, will loose its share of residential recycling for the entire North West. About 10 jobs will be lost.

    L'Acadie Nouvelle (capacadie.com)
• Week of 2024-01-26 to 2024-02-01

  • The City of Moncton currently has 38 vacant positions that they are recruiting for and will be having a Municipal Careers Expo on February 15 at city hall. Positions include Public Works, Park Operations, 911 operators and administration staff.

    Moncton Times & Transcript

  • N.B. has released its hydrogen road map, which it hopes will encourage the production and use of hydrogen, and support the sector over the next decade. Its estimated that the hydrogen market could create $1.9B in sales on the global export market by 2050.

    globalnews.ca

  • New Brunswick’s health minister states that recruiting for international nurses has paid off, with 74 new nurses already here working in long-term care centres and dozens more to come. The province has a goal to recruit another 150 nurses this year.

    cbc.ca

  • The Lycée International Français des Provinces Atlantiques reports that it has dropped plans to open a French private school in Saint John due to construction costs being 50% higher than estimated. The school was hoping to attract up to 900 students.

    cbc.ca

  • A new Labour Force Adjustment Committee has been given 100 days to come up with ideas to address the labour shortage in N.B.’s construction sector. It is estimated that 4.2% of jobs are vacant and there could be 8,400 retirements from now until 2032.

    cbc.ca

  • Port Saint John’s $205M modernization project is now complete and finished on budget. The port’s container capacity has more than doubled to 325,000 TEUs, has new refrigerated towers, and a deeper and wider channel and an expanded intermodal yard.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Vito’s restaurant is planning on opening a takeout location at East Point in Saint John. They hope to open around mid-February and employ 15 staff.

    charlottefm.ca

  • New Brunswick’s minimum wage will increase to $15.30 per hour on April 1, while the living wage in the province is calculated to range from $21.65 to $24.50. The province’s minimum wage rate is tied to the consumer price index, which grew by 3.6% in 2023.

    globalnews.ca

  • The N.B. government will introduce crop insurance for the maple syrup industry in 2025. The N.B. Maple Syrup Association says that the insurance will allow producers to cover costs during bad years, like what the producers experienced last season.

    cbc.ca

  • School districts in New Brunswick are faced with a staffing crunch as bus drivers get older, with 35% to 40% of drivers at the age to retire. The hope is to turn the job from a 30 hour-a-week side gig into a 40-hour-a-week, year-round career.

    Moncton Times & Transcript

  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has released the redfish quota allocations for the Atlantic Provinces when the fishery reopens later this year after a nearly 30-year hiatus with N.L. at 19% (+2.0), N.S. at 33% (-5.8), N.B. at 11% (+3.1), and P.E.I. at 5% (+0.5). The total allowable catch will be 25k tonnes.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-01-19 to 2024-01-25

  • Fredericton will receive over $10M in federal funding through the housing accelerator fund to help speed up the process and develop almost 300 housing units over three years. The hope is to develop more high density, affordable, and mixed-use housing.

    cbc.ca

  • MNP Digital, a professional services firm with digital delivery centres in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton, plans to create 100 full-time jobs with help from $1.1M in payroll rebates. MNP focuses on AI, data and analytics, cybersecurity and other IT services.

    thewave.ca

  • New Brunswick has backed away from a plan to merge all hospital testing laboratories at Moncton's Dr. Georges-L. Dumont Health Centre. The plan was expected to help address an expected shortage of laboratory staff, but staff said it could cause delays.

    cbc.ca

  • A study released by the University of New Brunswick, says the province is looking at a teacher shortage, due to looming retirements and a growing population. The study also found that half of the education graduates in N.B. don’t stay and teach in N.B.

    cbc.ca

  • Icon Developments Ltd. is proposing to build three six-storey apartment buildings at the corner of Whitepine Road and Pine Glen Road in Riverview. If the project is approved as proposed, the buildings would add 375 residential units to the area.

    cbc.ca

  • An overnight fire in Bouctouche has destroyed a Dixie Lee restaurant, the Pomona Raw Fusion smoothie business, the Bouctouche Flower Shop and five apartments. It is unknown if the businesses will rebuild or how many employees will be impacted.

    cbc.ca

  • Universities and colleges in N.B. are concerned about Ottawa’s decision to reduce permits for international students by 35% nationwide. Schools rely on higher international tuition, with schools having 11% to 48% international students.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will provide $472K in funding to ConnexionWorks, to deliver the Premier Entrepreneurship Program. ConnexionWorks supports entrepreneurs in the Saint John region with training, coaching, and networking.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. government will spend $4M over three years for six youth health care hubs around the province. The Canadian Mental Health Association will be in charge of staff and will administer the program, offering mental, physical and sexual health services.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. saw less housing starts per 100,000 people than both P.E.I. and N.S. in 2023. N.B. had 545 new housing starts per 100,00 people, while P.E.I. had 655 and N.S. had 676 housing starts per 100,000. In total the province built 4,547 new housing units.

    cbc.ca

  • A decision by the U.S. to increase the minimum legal size of lobster from 82mm to 84mm in 2025 and then 86mm in 2027, could reduce the amount of lobster shipped to the U.S. from Canada by 10-30%. The decision was made due to a reduction of young lobster.

    cbc.ca

  • Eight First Nation communities are partnering with NB Power and Natural Forces on the Neweg Energy Project, a wind turbine project near Sussex. The project plans to build six wind turbines, which are expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

    thewave.ca

  • Raymond O'Neill & Son Fisheries is temporarily closing its lobster processing plant in Escuminac, due to a shortage of lobsters and an excess of production capacity. The plant employs 135 people, who will be offered positions at the Grand-Digue facility.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-01-12 to 2024-01-18

  • The federal government announced that the deadline of Jan. 18 for small businesses to repay their CEBA loans, will not be extended any further. If a business misses the deadline, the CEBA loan will be converted to a three year loan at 5%.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates 3.5M additional housing units will be needed by 2030 to address the housing affordability issue. The Atlantic provinces are exploring ways to boost factory-built housing as one solution to accelerate housing construction in the region.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John will get $9.2M through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, which will be used to fast-track 285 units over 3 years. The money will be used to offer incentives, look at public land redevelopment, and to make amendments to zoning bylaws.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton councillors approved a 150-unit subdivision proposal to be built along Salisbury Road. Other projects discussed include a proposal to build a 18-storey downtown tower, two large subdivisions near McLaughlin Rd, and a 18-storey tower on Botsford St.

    cbc.ca

  • The Spicer Merrifield Gallery in uptown Saint John will close down on Jan. 27, having faced difficult economic challenges in recent years. The fine art, craft and jewellery gallery opened in 2020.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. government will commit $2.7M over 5 years, which will be used to waive first-time registration fees for newly graduated nursing students. The hope is that it will reduce financial barriers and help students transition from learning to work.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A new critical state priority protocol being implemented at N.B. hospitals could see patients moved out of a hospital and into a nursing home, in order to free up beds. A critical state could occur when an ER is over capacity or critical surgeries are cancelled.

    cbc.ca

  • Medavie Health Services states that its N.B. Health Link system uses emergency room doctors and hospitalists, who provide virtual care to those without a family doctor. About 52,000 New Brunswickers use the system, which uses about 40 doctors.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will provide up to $86M in funding to 15 organizations across Canada to help speed up the credential process of 6,600 internationally educated health workers. The aim is to help fill labour gaps and strengthen the healthcare system.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2024-01-05 to 2024-01-11

  • The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Saint John has moved to a new location at 171 McAllister Drive. The store has already seen more customers and an increase of donations.

    thewave.ca

  • The Aboiteau Wharf restaurant in Cap-Acadie burnt down over the weekend. It is unknown how many staff will be impacted or whether the owners will rebuild.

    cbc.ca

  • The province's business community along with international students studying in N.B. are asking the federal government to increase the working cap for international students from 20 to 30 hours a week. The change is seen as a benefit for students and employers.

    cbc.ca

  • ThriveNB, a N.B. group that provides support to newcomers that are new to the province, has helped over 200 new hires a year along with their families. The organization works with employers and helps new hires to find housing, daycare, and other services.

    Miramichi Leader

  • A 2 km extension to the Dieppe Boulevard will begin in 2024, with three levels of government contributing $42M to the project. It is expected to take two years to build the road and infrastructure, then commercial and residential development can begin.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will provide over $6.7M to Rising Tide and Crossroads for Women, as part of the Rapid Housing Initiative in Moncton. Rising Tide will build five two-storey apartment buildings and Crossroads will create a six-unit apartment building.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-29 to 2024-01-04

  • The Public Service Commission's 2022-2023 annual report states that the federal public service grew by 6.5% from April 2022 to March 2023, adding 16,642 new employees. Over 423,000 people applied to externally-advertised public service positions.

    Other Sources

  • The New Brunswick government has revoked American Iron and Metal's licence for its Saint John port scrapyard, after a task force report addressed multiple concerns following a massive fire that burned for 40 hours at the site in September.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-22 to 2023-12-28

  • A N.B. Government list shows that 18,926 government employees earned over $80,000 in 2022, with 29 of the top 50 earners being N.B. Power staff. A former CEO of N.B. Power was paid over $600K, while a RN with Horizon Health was third with earnings over $375K.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton’s Hynes family restaurant was sold to three cousins from outside the Hynes family, after 84 years of operation. The new owners plan to keep the menu and the décor the same, as well as retain the same staff.

    cbc.ca

  • Harper’s Exotic Animals & Pet Supply is closing after being unable to reach a lease agreement for its Milltown Boulevard location in St. Stephen. The owner has been unable to find a new location and is looking to care for the animals in his home.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A partnership between the YMCA of Greater Saint John and Shannex are proposing to establish a new 70-seat child care facility on Millennium Drive in Quispamsis. If approved the daycare would use an existing building on-site and would employ 20 people.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Fredericton-based Utimus, an initiative designed to help newcomers earn Canadian credentials and find employment, is looking to expand across Canada. Utimus’s programs focus on the aerospace and manufacturing sectors, where worker gaps exist.

    Cape Breton Post

  • The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) says the Saint John Regional Hospital has a critical shortage of MRTs. The nearest place for training is Ontario and Quebec and with only 78 graduates a year, demand is high.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2023-12-15 to 2023-12-21

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) plans to create separate possession-and-export licences for elvers/baby eels in an effort to crack down on illegal fishing in the Maritimes. Canadian elver export in 2022 was four times the legal catch limit.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.B. government has made changes to allow non-licensed internationally trained physicians to practise here and work as clinical assistants under the supervision of licensed doctors. Four positions are now being advertised, with as many as 20 over the next three years.

    cbc.ca

  • The Uptown Eatery at 68 King Street in uptown Saint John closed this month due to an unforeseen family issue. The restaurant opened in June 2020 and offered a blend of Middle Eastern and Canadian cuisine.

    thewave.ca

  • The New Brunswick Real Estate Association states that home sales across N.B. for November were up 9.3%, compared to last year and the benchmark price was $288,600. Saint John sold 181 homes whereas Moncton sold 271 homes. Although sales remain elevated, inventory levels have been low.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Statistics Canada reports that Canada’s inflation rate was steady at 3.1% in November, with mortgage costs, food and rent with the biggest increases. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was up by 2.5% in N.S, 2.1% in N.L., 1.7% in N.B., and only 0.4% in P.E.I.

    thewave.ca

  • Saint John’s $20M redeveloped waterfront space will be delayed a few months, due to some unknown ductwork being uncovered. Once completed in 2024, the space will include a skating rink, patios, a new stage, a space for vendors, and access to the waterfront.

    thewave.ca

  • The Canadian Federation Of Independent Business says about 12,000 N.B. businesses received CEBA loans and, according to a survey by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, around 24% of Canadian businesses won’t be able to repay the loan by January 18.

    cbc.ca

  • The Lobster Fishers of P.E.I. Marketing Board says the price of live lobster is as high as $11.50 a pound, up from $7.50 last year. Catches were down this year in New England, N.S., and N.B., plus demand is high in the Asian market, followed by the U.S.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-08 to 2023-12-14

  • Fredericton councillors narrowly voted down a proposal to construct an 88-unit townhouse at 501 Gibson Street, mainly due to public opposition that city parkland would be lost to the project.

    cbc.ca

  • The Liberal health critic says the Saint John Hospital has a critical shortage of radiation therapists, with seven vacant positions. The hospital has lost eight radiation therapists in the last six months, with calls for better wages and retention bonuses.

    Telegraph Journal

  • A new research report by the Atlantic Economic Council shows Indigenous businesses contributed 5% of Atlantic Canada’s GDP, over 8% of jobs, and about $3.6B to the economy in 2020. The report identified 660 Indigenous-owned businesses and 2,400 self-employed persons in N.S. as of 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • A new study from Downtowns Atlantic Canada Inc. reports that downtown businesses are dealing with security issues, lack of staffing, decreased foot traffic due to remote work, and concerns about repayment of the federal CEBA small business loans.

    globalnews.ca

  • The N.B. government has laid out its 12-year strategy to transition to clean energy. The plan is to quadruple the amount of renewable energy produced, double nuclear production with SMRs, and convert the Belledune generating station from coal to biomass.

    cbc.ca

  • The Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government (LMG) is calling on the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to issue a moratorium on the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. LMG states that the fishery is unsustainable, with less shrimp and higher expenses.

    cbc.ca

  • New Brunswick maple syrup production dropped 35% in 2023, following a record year in 2022. Extreme cold weather in the spring followed by warm weather resulted in poor sap flow. The gross value in 2023 was about $20.8M, compared to about $33M in 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian rideshare service Uride has further expanded in New Brunswick with its arrival in Saint John. Uride is looking for new drivers in the city , with full-time drivers being offered a $1,500 weekly guarantee for the first four weeks.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-12-01 to 2023-12-07

  • Application deadlines for the N.B. government’s Step Up To Nursing initiative have been set for January 12, 2024 and February 15, 2024. The program helps those in the nursing field advance their skills to become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. government has put out another call for proposals to add more early learning and childcare spaces in the province, with nearly 3,300 children on wait lists. Not-for-profits will be prioritized.

    cbc.ca

  • True North Salmon in St. George plans to double the size of its salmon processing plant with the help of $6.7M in repayable loans. In total, $55M is being spent to upgrade equipment and build a 65,000 ft2 processing plant and a 13,880 ft2 freezer building.

    thewave.ca

  • Unity Acquisitions has entered into an agreement with Mastermind Toys to acquire 66 stores across Canada, but 18 stores will close. The locations in Saint John and Fredericton are among those closing, while the Moncton store will stay open.

    thewave.ca

  • Two friends who lost their jobs during the pandemic have opened the Hope-Wellness Eco-Resort, located in the woods of Hillsborough. The facility is powered by solar panels, which has a Nordic spa, a yoga dome and cabins in the forest.

    globalnews.ca

  • According to Statistics Cananada, 11% of women and 16% of men were self-employed in 2022. The report also stated that 80% of self-employed women and 68% of self-employed men had no employees in 2022.

    ctvnews.ca

  • CBC/Radio Canada announced it will cut about 10% of its workforce or roughly 600 unionized and non-unionized positions, due to financial pressures. Another 200 vacant positions will also be cut. It’s unknown how many layoffs will be in Atlantic Canada.

    vocm.com

  • The N.B. government has introduced legislation that would force five public-sector unions into shared-risk pension plans, which the union says violates its collective agreement. CUPE union leaders are warning of possible strike action in response.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.B. Peat Producers Association states that wet weather conditions this year has resulted in peat production being down about 40%, making it one of the worst seasons on record. The industry employs about 2,000 people and generates about $250M in economic activity annually.

    cbc.ca

  • According to the Human Development Council’s Living Wage report, food and housing were the top two expenses in every New Brunswick city they studied. The living wage is the pay rate needed to meet basic needs and ranged from $21.65 to $24.50 an hour.

    cbc.ca

  • Horizon Health Network states it will stop using temporary nurses from private agencies by March 2024, while Vitalité plans to do the same by winter 2026. The N.B. Nurses Union states that travel nurses cost the province almost $57M over five months.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-24 to 2023-11-30

  • Fredericton-based Bulletproof Solutions, an IT and cybersecurity firm, is going to expand and add 240 new full-time jobs over four years. Positions include security analysts, service desk agents, MS Cloud security specialists, and security pen testers.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Despite the province’s pledge to boost counsellors in the school system, there are only six school psychologists serving 73,000 students in N.B’s English school system. In comparison, the French school system has 22 psychologists serving 30,000 students.

    cbc.ca

  • According to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, labour shortages have cost small businesses across Canada over $38B. Lack of staff has meant that existing employees have had to work harder. Employers have had to cut down on hours and turn down services and contracts.

    ctvnews.ca

  • ARC Clean Technology and NB Power signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) to explore collaborative opportunities to develop small modular nuclear reactor technology in Canada, Korea, the U.S. and elsewhere.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Kent Regional Service Commission is finalizing plans, which would see Mennonite families from Ontario buy 1,000 acres of land in Acadieville and settle down to farm the land. It is hoped that it will help revitalize the region's agriculture sector.

    cbc.ca

  • The Saint John Airport is looking to diversify its revenue streams and is exploring the possibility of leasing airport property for the development of a hotel. Other ideas being considered include adding a gas station, quick-service restaurant, and retail stores.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association reports that more than 600 cruise ships came to the region between April and August, with a 28% increase in port calls. The Port of Sydney and Saint John experienced record-breaking activity in 2023.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Saint John is working on its first District Energy System, which will see thermal energy distributed to multiple uptown Saint John buildings. The project will cost about $2.4M and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 502 tonnes.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A physician assistant (PA) pilot program at the Fredericton hospital will be expanded across emergency rooms in the province. PAs earn between $100,000 and $115,000 and have been used in ERs to conduct exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, and order and interpret tests.

    cbc.ca

  • Mastermind Toys, the Canadian toy retailer, has filed for creditor protection and intends to close some of its 66 stores across Canada. The company states that it faced a number of challenges such as the pandemic, increased competition, and a poor economy.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Concerns are being voiced about N.B.’s agricultural policy, as the blueberry industry expands with industrial-level production, while the number of locally owned farms shrinks. The industry is faced with aging farmers, labour shortages, and extreme weather.

    cbc.ca

  • N.S.-based Serious Incident Response Team has opened a bilingual independent police watchdog office at Marysville Place in Fredericton. Once fully staffed it will employ an assistant director, three investigators and an administrative person.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-17 to 2023-11-23

  • Moncton will receive more than $15M over three years from the federal housing accelerator fund, which with the hope that it results in almost 500 more housing units being built in the city. The money will be used to help home builders and speed up construction development.

    cbc.ca

  • New figures by Statistics Canada show that N.B.’s average cost of rent increased by 9% over the past year and has gone up 28.7% since October 2020, the highest in Canada. The province’s population growth has outpaced new construction, pushing prices up.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John’s growth committee has approved the hiring of an additional bylaw officer to address issues such as zoning violations and unsightly properties. The city has seen an increase in case numbers and currently only has one bylaw officer.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton is proposing to change some bylaws in order to streamline its development approvals process for new housing, which would include the elimination of public hearings. The aim is to reduce barriers, lessen delays, and speed up construction projects.

    cbc.ca

  • A developper has bought the former St. Vincent's school on Cliff Street in Saint John, with plans to convert the property into 50 residential units. Though structurally sound, the building is over 100 years old and has been vacant since 2002.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Recruitment working group is looking to recruit international health-care workers in a more collaborative approach, as opposed to drawing from other provinces. Dubai, India, the Philippines, and Ireland are all potential recruitment sites.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Grand Lake’s mayor is hoping the NBCC can offer local training for correctional workers in preparation of the new $42M Central New Brunswick Correctional Centre to be built in Minto. Over 120 jobs are expected to be created as a result, with about 95 being correctional workers.

    Telegraph Journal

  • The Canadian Real Estate Association reports that N.B.’s home sales figures were up slightly in October, compared to October 2022. Greater Moncton sales were up 11.1%, Northern and Valley Regions (+5.3%), Fredericton (+2.2%), but fell in Saint John by 19.4%.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-11-10 to 2023-11-16

  • Port Saint John reports that it had another strong cruise ship season in 2023. The city had 74 cruise ship visits, which brought over 172,000 passengers to the port, a 16% increase over the previous year.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government will provide $32M in low-cost loans to build 132 boutique rental homes at 650 Waterloo Row in Fredericton. The N.B. government has established a rent bank as part of its new housing strategy and will begin leasing units in May 2024.

    globalnews.ca

  • The community of Fundy Albert will get $12M in funding to upgrade its aging water infrastructure, including building a new well and pumping system. It is expected to be constructed in 2 to 2½ years.

    cbc.ca

  • Taco Bell officially opened a new stand-alone location this month at 977 Fairville Boulevard in Saint John, which is adding 37 new jobs to the region.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A 870-unit development that is proposed to be built between Golf Club Road and Prospect Street was approved by Fredericton City Council. Cedar Valley’s plan includes seven apartment buildings with some commercial units, as well as townhouses and detached homes.

    cbc.ca

  • Compass Housing has broken ground on a new two-storey 42-unit development in Saint Andrews. Located at the corner of Mowat Drive and Bar Road, the building will include mainly two-bedroom units (31), as well as six one-bedroom and five three-bedroom units.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Fifty-one new frontline RCMP policing positions will be added over the next two years in N.B., thanks to $20.5M in provincial funding. Fifteen positions will be in central N.B., eight in the southeast, six in Kent and western N.B., and additional hires in other areas.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A new business opened up on Hampton Road in Rothesay last month, which sells a selection of hand-made frozen and semi-cooked Ukrainian food. Varenyky.ca plans to begin offering dine-in and takeout by the end of November.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Scotiabank has announced that it will close its Nackawic branch, which is the only bank in the rural town. The bank plans to shut down at least 18 branches across the Atlantic region, including McAdam, Shippagan and Petitcodiac.

    cbc.ca

  • Human service counsellors in N.B. are wondering why they are receiving a $1 an hour top-up in wages, while other community support workers, like PCWs get an extra $2.50 an hour. The field has had retention issues over the years, especially within non-profits.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-03 to 2023-11-09

  • Irving Oil has signed a 10-year deal with Alberta-based Grow the Energy Circle Ltd. to supply it with up to 60,000 gigajoules of renewable natural gas. The natural gas is produced from organic waste and will help Irving shift to lower carbon energy solutions.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Goold’s Flowers Ltd. in Sussex will close its doors after nearly 150 years in operation. The business faced a recent downturn in business from COVID and competing against larger retail stores in town.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Fredericton city councillors are considering a proposal to add Sunday bus service next year between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. If the proposal is approved, the city will need to hire six more drivers, a dispatcher, a service worker and a service technician.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantica Centre for Energy has created a new literacy project called Fuel 4 the Future (F4F). The aim is to raise awareness of opportunities in the clean energy sector and create new career pathways in clean hydrogen, biofuels, and renewable natural gas.

    charlottefm.ca

  • N.B. Power has backed down from its plan to sponsor construction of a salt-based energy storage system, deeming it to be too expensive. When the plan was announced two years ago, it was estimated that up to 240 new jobs would be created as a result of the project.

    cbc.ca

  • The Hôtel Shediac in downtown Shediac, has declared bankruptcy, after years of financial difficulty. The hotel employs roughly 45 full-time and part-time employees and is still open, but staff are hoping a new owner will take over the operations.

    cbc.ca

  • Veterinarians across Canada are increasingly reporting burnout and deteriorating mental health conditions due to elevated stress levels, staff shortages and growing demand for services. Canada has had a shortage of vet technologists, technicians and vets.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-27 to 2023-11-02

  • The N.B. government has introduced legislation that will ban N.B. Power from providing electricity service to any new cryptocurrency mining operations. The province's two mines, Hive Blockchain Technologies and Chief Fuels, would consume 96 megawatts of energy.

    cbc.ca

  • The founder of Saint John’s waterfront container village has seen success with its collection of nearly 40 N.B. vendors that operate out of modified shipping containers. In its second season it saw over 250,000 visitors, with many coming from cruise ships.

    globalnews.ca

  • The old Cherry Brook Zoo in Saint John has been bought by Origins Natural Learning Childcare, who will turn it into a nature-based early learning and childcare campus. Site work is expected to start later this year and will have over 100 spaces when done.

    thewave.ca

  • According to the First Atlantic Municipal Report released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), small businesses want more support from municipalities. They would like to see reduced taxes, less paperwork, and quicker processing.

    thewave.ca

  • The city is considering a proposal for a 200 unit residential project to be built at 1440 Loch Lomond Road in east Saint John. The developer noted that the city has an extremely low rental vacancy rate, but the land would need to be rezoned from farm land.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. College of Physicians and Surgeons has launched the province's Practice-ready Assessment program, with the aim to increase the number of foreign-trained doctors. Over 100 doctors have already applied and 10 are currently undergoing a 12-week evaluation.

    cbc.ca

  • Uride, an Ontario-based ridesharing company, is making inroads in New Brunswick. The company officially launched in Fredericton this month and has started recruiting for drivers to offer the service in Saint John and Moncton, hopefully before Christmas.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. Association of Nursing Homes says that the rising senior population will further impact healthcare in the province, which already has a shortage of labour. It is expected that residents over 65 years of age will grow by 26,300 in the next five years.

    thewave.ca

  • Health departments across Canada are increasingly using nursing agencies to fill shifts that aren’t covered by current staff. Agency nurses get higher pay and have more flexibility, while working beside public system nurses who earn less and are asked to work more.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. is looking to establish a new overseas office, with the goal to recruit 10,000 skilled tradespeople. The province will consider countries that have the best transferability of skills, high unemployment, good education levels, and solid language skills.

    Telegraph Journal

  • The federal government made changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which will allow employers in seven sectors that have labour shortages, to hire up to 30% of their staff until Aug 30, 2024. Sectors include accommodation and food services, construction, food manufacturing and hospitals.

    Globe & Mail

  • Project: Village Housing, a 30-unit housing project planned for Blacks Harbour, has been delayed as it awaits federal funding approval. Once CMHC gives final approval, the project can be put out to tender and hopefully begin construction in the spring.

    cbc.ca

  • The New Brunswick government wants to amend the child-care deal it has with Ottawa, to allow funding to go to for-profit daycare centres as well. Most daycare centres in the province are for-profit and there aren’t enough non-profit centres to meet demand.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-20 to 2023-10-26

  • Moncton is looking to change its zoning rules to allow four-unit buildings in any residential area, in order to get $13.4M through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The city is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in Canada and is expected to grow 44% by 2046.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton's Salvus Clinic has closed its doors after being in operation for over 10 years, having failed to secure a new location. The community clinic provided medical care and housing support to 4,200 patients. Its mobile health van, which employs 24 staff, will continue.

    cbc.ca

  • Port Saint John is working with Acre Architects to come up with a 10-to-15-year project list, but is already looking to establish a cold storage facility close to the container terminal, as well as beautifying the land surrounding the port.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Cedar Valley Investments is proposing to build seven apartment buildings, eleven townhouses and two dozen single detached homes between Golf Club Road and Prospect Street in Fredericton. The city would have to rezone the area before allowing the proposal.

    cbc.ca

  • Scotiabank’s McAdam branch will close down in June 2024 and residents will have to travel to Fredericton for in-person services. The bank also closed branches in in Bath, near Florenceville-Bristol, and on Grand Manan Island in 2022.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A $2M housing development in Miramichi with 20 units is nearly completed, with more than half of which are designated for affordable housing. The development also has designated units for at-risk youth and families facing domestic violence.

    cbc.ca

  • ArtsLinkNB is asking the New Brunswick government for a $25M investment in the province’s arts and culture sector as it deals with high inflation rates. The arts and culture sector contributed $578M to the province’s economy in 2021.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The first of five buildings proposed for the $300M Fundy Quay development project in Saint John is expected to begin foundation work later this fall. The six-storey building will have 79 residential units, along with ground-floor retail.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-10-13 to 2023-10-19

  • New research from KPMG Canada found that extreme weather events this year have impacted nearly 60% of small and medium-sized businesses in Canada. Over 50% of those surveyed experienced a significant rise in overall costs, while 44% reported a direct loss in revenue.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) states that 76% of N.B. small businesses are concerned about costs, 70% are concerned with taxes, and 53% with labour policies.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A digital talent pipeline initiative was launched by the New Brunswick Community College and UNB Saint John, with the help of a $1M gift. The N.B. program will invest in student scholarships, improve curriculum, and explore research in digital tech.

    thewave.ca

  • The largest barn on the Degenhardt’s European Sausage Farm in Petitcodiac burnt down, killing 28 birds in the fire. The fire won’t impact the sausage business, but the farm’s water supply was damaged, and the uninsured barn will need to be replaced.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. and N.S. have reached an agreement with the federal government on phasing out coal and increasing the use of renewable energy to generate electricity by 2030. The plan involves upgraded transmission lines, with an emphasis on wind, solar and nuclear power.

    cbc.ca

  • A wind power report states that Atlantic Canada has the opportunity to become a global leader in renewable energy if it harnesses its offshore wind potential. The Sable Island Bank could ideally handle 1,000 offshore turbines and supply around 70,000 GWs.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton has seen an increase in business theft, leading to greater demand for security services. Eastern Safety Services has doubled its staff in the past year to 20. Figures show that retail theft increased by 36% in Moncton from 2020 to 2021.

    cbc.ca

  • Health ministers from across Canada have identified its main priorities for health care. These include improving retention, examining training and supply demands, quicker international credential process, easier labour mobility, and improved workforce data.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-06 to 2023-10-12

  • Saint John council has approved a proposed ball hockey facility that is planned to be built at 1660 Manawagonish Road in the city’s west side. The goal is to have the $2.5M facility completed in the fall of 2024, which will include a licensed lounge.

    globalnews.ca

  • The N.B. government will invest $22.5M a year as part of its Housing for All strategy. One stream of funding will be for preconstruction, such as water, roads and wastewater. The other stream of funding is for small community housing infrastructure.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Giant Tiger plans to open a new location at 450 Westmorland Road in Saint John on November 4. The company has announced that it plans to open six new locations in eastern Canada.

    nbnewsnow.ca

  • Saint John’s inside workers and the City of Saint John have ratified a working agreement, which will see wage increases from Jan. 2022 to Jan. 2026, as well as extra payments.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.B. government’s Nursing Homes Without Walls program is expanding to include 14 nursing homes. The program provides health and social services for seniors still living at home. Participating homes are located all across the province.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Fromagerie de la République in Edmunston will receive almost $540K in provincial and federal money to help expand the business from a dairy farm into a cheese factory. New Brunswick accounted for $142.6M in dairy sales in 2022.

    canada.ca

  • According to Statistics Canada, employment levels rose by 64,000 across Canada in September, although the unemployment rate remained at 5.5%. N.B. lost 2,700 jobs, whereas N.S. and P.E.I. added 1,800 and 2,700, respectively.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-09-29 to 2023-10-05

  • The New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation has signed a new collective agreement, which will see teachers receive an extra 15% over five years, retroactive to 2021. Other issues addressed included recruitment, retention and instructional time.

    charlottefm.ca

  • New Brunswick has experienced more population growth in the past two years than it did in the 29 years prior. Statistics Canada estimates that the New Brunswick population is around 834,691 this year, an increase of more than 25,000 from 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • Perivale + Taylor and Cornerstone released its findings on policing services in the Moncton area. The study recommends keeping the Codiac Regional RCMP as establishing a municipal bilingual force of 180 officers would be difficult and cost millions more.

    cbc.ca

  • New Brunswick pharmacists can now diagnose and treat conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Pharmacists can now assess and treat 12 common ailments, in an effort to free up space in walk-in clinics and hospitals.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The new president of the New Brunswick Medical Society says that recruitment and retention of doctors will be her main priority. She would like to see more medical school seats for N.B. residents and increase the number of those trained in New Brunswick.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John’s inside workers have rejected the city’s latest offer and its union is preparing a counterproposal. The city states that its offer includes up to two years of sick benefits, average wages between $65,000 and $75,000, and a full pension.

    cbc.ca

  • A new study from Online Mortgage Advisor reports that out of all Canadian cities, Moncton has experienced the biggest deterioration in rental affordability. The study compared average salary to rent payments between 2018 and 2022. Relative to other Canadian cities, renters paid 11.3% more in Moncton.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2023-09-22 to 2023-09-28

  • The Government of Canada has announced $9M to help improve the readiness of designated climate comfort centres. Funding will be used for facility and equipment upgrades, emergency supply purchases and training.

    canada.ca

  • The College of Family Physicians of Canada wants the residency programs for family doctors to increase from two to three years in 2027. While this extra clinical specialty training could better prepare doctors and physicians, it could also add to the shortage of family doctors.

    cbc.ca

  • The New Brunswick Crown Prosecutors Association states that provincial prosecutors are getting burned out, as a shortage of prosecutors persists. Although 18 of 30 new positions have been filled since April 11, some have retired, resigned or moved elsewhere.

    cbc.ca

  • Horizon Health will close an 18-bed unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital, which will displace 13 registered nurses and 13 licensed practical nurses. In its place two protected surgical units with a total of 76 beds will be created at the hospital.

    cbc.ca

  • Torrid, a plus-size women’s retail clothing chain, is opening a new location at McAllister Place in Saint John. The company is currently hiring for several positions and expects to hire as many as 16 employees by the time they open in January 2024.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government will begin its category-based selection from the Express Entry immigration pool this week and begin with agriculture and agri-food occupations. The process will allow Canada to invite those with specific skills and training.

    Chronicle Herald

  • The federal government will begin its category-based selection from the Express Entry immigration pool this week and begin with agriculture and agri-food occupations. The process will allow Canada to invite those with specific skills and training.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-09-15 to 2023-09-21

  • ACOA announced it will invest $12.6M in core funding to support the 41 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) in Atlantic Canada. CBDCs support economic development in primarily rural areas and help businesses to grow and create jobs.

    canada.ca

  • Four independent senators have released a report that is critical of Canada’s international education program and suggest that designated learning institutions (DLIs) need to be held accountable for their recruitment practices. They would like to see greater protection and support for international students and a national policy developed. Atlantic Canada accounts for 5% of international students.

    Other Sources

  • According to the Saint John Real Estate Board, home sales rebounded in August, but still remain about 10% lower than the long-term average. Inventory is down with 237 new listings in August, down 25% from a year earlier. Active listings are also down 23%.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Moncton's general manager of finance services reports that bid prices on construction and snow clearing are coming in nearly 10% to 30% higher than in 2021/22. Costs are rising due to a busy construction market, labour shortages, and higher material costs.

    cbc.ca

  • The owner of McGill’s restaurant announced that it would be closing its doors on Saint John’s Market Square boardwalk for good. Leading to the closure were challenges related to the pandemic and the ongoing Fundy Quay development.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The N.B. Council of Nursing Home Unions, which represents 4,600 nursing home workers, says wait lists will only get worse without better pay. Lower pay has made it difficult to recruit and retain workers like licensed practical nurses, cleaners and cooks.

    Telegraph Journal

  • The New Brunswick government has suspended American Iron & Metal's operating licence until a full investigation and review is complete. The scrapyard had a massive fire last week, which affected air quality, closed schools and neighbouring businesses.

    thewave.ca

  • RBC's latest macroeconomic outlook reports that N.B. is leading the country in job growth this year. A growing population, strong employment and consumer spending, along with an influx of interprovincial and international migrants has bolstered the labour market.

    Telegraph Journal
• Week of 2023-09-08 to 2023-09-14

  • New Brunswick’s oldest independent bookstore, Fredericton's Westminster Books, will continue operating under new ownership as the Westminster Bookmark. The former owner had retired and the new owners run the Bookmark stores in Charlottetown and Halifax.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government made its first municipal agreement under the multi-billion dollar Housing Accelerator Fund, which is part of a new housing strategy. The idea is to offer incentives for municipalities to reduce red tape and allow for quicker construction.

    ctvnews.ca

  • A new report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.(CMHC) states that Canada needs an additional 3.5M housing units by 2030, above and beyond current projections. Immigration, rising incomes, and limited supply are driving demand.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The provincial government has announced that a new collective agreement was reached with New Brunswick teachers. No details will be released until the agreement is officially signed.

    globalnews.ca

  • Canada’s military has a vacancy rate of around 10% and recruitment has been unable to keep up. This comes after the Armed Forces relaxed the dress standards a year ago in an effort to attract new recruits. Other measures include offering signing bonuses and shorter contracts.

    cbc.ca

  • Unionized city workers in Saint John are on strike, stating that the city’s latest offer falls short on wage increases. Workers include 911 operators, recreation, customer service, tech positions, admin support, permitting, bylaw and financial services.

    cbc.ca

  • The town of Quispamsis has applied for $9M from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to address its housing shortfall. It expects to need about 1,500 additional units over the next 20 years. About 83% of the housing stock is currently single detached homes and apartments.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-09-01 to 2023-09-07

  • Commercial licence holders in the Maritime baby eel fishery have lost their legal bid to overturn the federal decision to cut the commercial elver quota by 14% and give it to Indigenous bands, without compensation to private licence holders.

    cbc.ca

  • New Brunswick’s coalition for seniors' rights states that the province has 984 people on nursing home wait lists, with 523 of them waiting in a hospital. The province has opened 120 new nursing home beds since January and offers some interim home support.

    Daily Gleaner

  • Despite the N.B. Dept. of Health having a 2022 report that calls on the government to expand midwifery services and explore educational programs, no action has been taken. There are only four active midwives in N.B. and only Fredericton has a clinic.

    globalnews.ca

  • Saint John and Bathurst will open N.B. Health Link clinics next week, which connects patients with a doctor or nurse practitioner. The program launched in the Moncton region last year and provides health care via telephone, online, or in-person.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. musicians say that making music as a living is hard and requires spending money on instruments, studio time and even merchandise. Music N.B. reports that most musicians need a second job and some make money by doing studio work and teaching.

    cbc.ca

  • A new fast-tracked nursing program will begin next year at UNB Saint John. The three-year nursing degree is expected to help address the shortage of nurses, and will offer 21 additional seats in the bachelor of nursing program in Saint John.

    cbc.ca

  • The union that represents the City of Saint John workers claims that collective agreement negotiations have stalled, while the City states they have a fair deal on the table. Workers include 911 dispatch, recreation, financials and customer service.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-08-25 to 2023-08-31

  • The City of Saint John says it needs to double the number of housing starts to meet the needs of its growing population, which is targeted to grow by 2%. The city is expecting 300 housing starts in 2023 and currently has a rental vacancy rate below 2%.

    globalnews.ca

  • Saint John’s Four Eyes Financial is getting up to $480K in payroll rebates from Opportunities NB, to assist in the hiring of 40 new FT employees over the next three years. Another $25K in funding will help with further expansion across Canada and the U.S.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The New Brunswick government will invest up to $487K in a new Learn Where you Live program. The program will give practical nurses the option to complete their nursing degree in Miramichi or Moncton, and not solely at the Fredericton campus.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A committee has been formed with five representatives from the City of Fredericton and another five from the New Brunswick Exhibition, to decide the final plans to develop the final plan for turning the Exhibition Grounds into a housing development.

    cbc.ca

  • New Brunswick’s 600+ correctional workers will now be included under presumptive PTSD legislation, which will provide support to those diagnosed with PTSD. Correctional officers are often exposed to violence, conflicts and other disturbances.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Université de Moncton and the union that represents its administrative and support staff have reached a tentative agreement. Negotiations have been ongoing since December. No details of the deal have been released at this time.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John Transit has found success with on-demand electric buses, which has shown to have doubled ridership numbers, while also costing less. A 20-foot electric bus costs about half of a 40-foot diesel bus and a electric bus can be charged for only $4.

    cbc.ca

  • New Brunswick's first JYSK Canada store is looking to open at 384 Lancaster Avenue in Saint John. The building would have to be rezoned from commercial to retail. JYSK sells furniture, mattresses, bedding, interior décor, outdoor products, and accessories.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-08-18 to 2023-08-24

  • Licensed cannabis producers and retailers continue to struggle due to dropping prices, a saturated market and a heavy tax burden. They are predicting a significant increase in the number of bankruptcies within the next 18 months without any federal level changes to help the industry.

    cbc.ca

  • NB Liquor and Cannabis NB released first-quarter results, with total sales up 0.4% ($134.2M) for the liquor corp. and total product sales up 11% ($21.9M) for Cannabis NB. Despite this net income for NB Liquor fell 2.1%, while Cannabis NB income rose 24.3%.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. nurses union says that only 234 of the 657 nurses recently registered have actually been hired by the Horizon and Vitalité Health Networks. Over 400 nurses that are registered are temporary employees that will work short contracts.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton has awarded a $3.3M contract to Fram Enterprises Inc. to begin the first phase of major infrastructure work being done downtown. Sewer, electrical, and communication lines will be relocated, as well as raising street levels to reduce flood risks.

    cbc.ca

  • UNB has announced a new Research Institute in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence which will bring together various faculties at UNB to work collaboratively on AI and data science research. It is believed that businesses will need AI to stay competitive.

    cbc.ca

  • Temporary foreign workers hired to work as lobster processors in New Brunswick are struggling this year, with a lack of work and a Canadian system that doesn’t allow them to find other work or apply for E.I. benefits. Most workers have returned home early.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada is seeing a steady influx of international students, with a record 550,150 international study permits issued last year, but more student housing is needed. There is currently no cap on students allowed or requirement for schools to build housing.

    cbc.ca

  • Canadian tech companies using the Global Talent Stream (GTS) to recruit foreign workers has dipped 2.8% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. The use of GTS is still above pre-pandemic levels, despite layoffs and hiring slowdowns.

    thelogic.co

  • The City of Miramichi is seeking $13.8M from CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund for 11 initiatives to support new residential development in order to address its housing shortage. The application requires a housing supply growth target and initiatives to meet it.

    Telegraph Journal

  • A Conference Board of Canada report states that Moncton’s growth in 2023-24 will be driven by construction, manufacturing, public admin and healthcare. Consumer spending is projected to slow down, resulting in job losses in the retail and wholesale sectors.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Two levels of government will invest $1.1M in tourism infrastructure for Fundy-St. Martins, including lighthouse renovations, a new amphitheatre, and accessibility and traffic improvements. Phase one of the project will likely take 2-3 years to complete.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Mountain Equipment Company will officially open this month in the Mapleton Power Centre in Moncton. This will be the second location in the Maritimes. The 25,000-square-foot location on Wyse Street will sell a variety of outdoor sports gear.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-08-11 to 2023-08-17

  • The Northumberland Strait fall lobster fishery has opened up after weather delays, allowing boats in southern P.E.I., northwestern N.S. and southeastern N.B. to set their traps. Demand for this season's catch is expected to be high and push up prices.

    cbc.ca

  • Eight N.B. post-secondary schools have joined together for a new program called Study NB, which is a one-stop website resource on academic offerings, financial aid, student housing and New Brunswick itself. The aim is to attract more students to N.B.

    cbc.ca

  • Daycare centres in N.B. are seeing strong demand for their services, but despite the province allocating new spaces to operators, some centres don’t have the physical space to expand. Since September 2021, the province has created 1,422 daycare spaces.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Two levels of government will invest over $44.5M to support infrastructure renewal in Fredericton, such as improvements to water pipes, sewage, and multi-use trails. The investment will end up creating jobs and helping with economic growth.

    canada.ca

  • New Brunswick's former chief economist states that even with moderate population growth, the province needs about 7,000 to 8,000 new skilled construction trades workers to replace those retiring and to meet the growing demand. In 2021 there were only 327 students enrolled in N.B. trade programs.

    Daily Gleaner

  • Recent job data from Statistics Canada shows that construction employment has decreased by 71,000 across Canada since January 2023. The industry has 80,000 vacancies, which has impacted costs and productivity, while there is a growing need for new homes.

    www.msn.com

  • The N.B. Council of Nursing Home Unions states that negotiations have stalled with the government. The union says the government hasn’t moved far from its 6% wage increase offer over five years, which makes it hard to attract and retain staff.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-08-04 to 2023-08-10

  • The Canadian Federation of Independent Business states that 20% of all businesses in Canada could be at risk of closing as COVID loans approach a year-end deadline. The government says that 12,091 N.B. businesses received loans totalling about $648M.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Saint John has received 406 building-related permit applications worth $100M between January and July 2023. There have been 220 residential units created so far, with an additional 19 projects planned, that will add an additional 2,300 new units.

    thewave.ca

  • YOYOSO, a fashion and leisure department store, will open its first Atlantic Canadian location in Fredericton’s Regent Mall. Although an opening date has not been given, the retailer is currently looking for management and part-time employees.

    thewave.ca

  • Moncton’s Greystone Energy Systems Inc. will receive $280K in payroll rebates from Opportunities NB, which will support its plans to add 34 new full-time jobs at the company’s headquarters between 2022 and 2025. Greystone is a leading manufacturer in the province.

    www2.gnb.ca

  • Work is underway at UNB’s Saint John campus on the new $50M Health and Social Innovation Centre. Expected to open in 2025, the 65,000-ft2 facility will offer teaching and research facilities, and will be the hub for the Integrated Health Initiative.

    thewave.ca

  • Air Canada has announced that the Saint John airport will lose two of its three daily direct flights to Toronto and one of two flights to Montreal, while Fredericton will lose one daily flight. The cuts were due to high demand for pilots and supply chain issues.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government announced a new three-year pilot program, which will speed up the approval process for companies with a track record of using foreign workers. It is hoped it will help with labour shortages, especially in the agricultural sector.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • UNB has partnered with a university in India, in a program that will train 25 nurses each year over four years. The province will spend $1.24M on the program and hope that students that complete the degree will come to N.B. to work.

    ctvnews.ca

  • As the federal government tries to expand access to dental care through the Canadian Dental Care Plan, its success could be hampered by a shortage of dental staff. Across Canada there is a scarcity of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other staff.

    Other Sources

  • The Environment Minister has ordered a comprehensive environmental review for the proposed small modular reactor (SMR) project at Point Lepreau. ARC Clean Energy and NB Power are heading the project, with the aim to be net-zero by 2035.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Ambulance New Brunswick plans to operate a secondary plane to enhance air ambulance service for Grand Manan, which could see up to six more pilots hired. On average about 100 patients from Grand Manan are flown by medevac each year.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. car dealerships say they are still faced with supply issues, with inventory below pre-COVID levels. Some dealers don't have any cars on the lot and have to order from the factory. New car prices have gone up, leading to higher demand for used cars.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-07-28 to 2023-08-03

  • The federal program Skills for Success will provide $1.5M in funding to Black Lives Matter New Brunswick, which will assist 30 racialized individuals to receive carpentry training this year at the Carpenter and Millwright College in Saint John.

    Telegraph Journal

  • The New Brunswick Teachers' Federation has reached a tentative deal with the province, after two years without a collective agreement. The federation’s main issues have been higher wages and improved working conditions for its 7,800 workers.

    cbc.ca

  • East Coast Restaurants Group has introduced a new concept in N.B., a virtual kitchen. Unlike a typical restaurant that has a dining room and wait staff, this one has 18 restaurants in one kitchen, and all food is ordered and delivered via delivery apps.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B. will run a one-year pilot project, which will have pharmacists at six locations who will manage and prescribe for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and asthma. The aim is to expand across the province and improve access to primary care.

    cbc.ca

  • Ambulance New Brunswick has hired 21 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and will add multi-patient vehicles for non-urgent transfers. It is hoped that it will help paramedics to better respond to emergency calls using ambulances.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. government has selected Minto as the site of a new $42M jail. The community is expected to benefit from new jobs and see potential spinoffs from the jail. Work is expected to begin in the fall and start construction of the building in the spring.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-07-21 to 2023-07-27

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $8.8M in joint federal/provincial funding to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in Belle-Baie and Bathurst. This investment will enable improvements to lift stations, sanitary sewer lines, water lines, storm sewers and drainage.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $15.5M in joint federal/provincial/municipal funding to improve water and wastewater infrastructure and active transportation for Rivière-du-Nord and the Regional Municipality of Tracadie.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced $22.5M in joint federal/provincial/municipal funding to build the new Centre Régional des Générations in Caraquet. It will include an indoor arena with 600 seats, walking track, changing rooms, canteen, multipurpose community space and administrative area.

    canada.ca

  • Current cost estimates for the revitalization of the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John are $150M with a reopening date target of early 2026. It will remain in its original home on Douglas Avenue and will incorporate a new design that will upgrade and preserve the nearly century-old facility.

    thewave.ca

  • The Carrefour Coop project in Lamèque, NB has received $2.1M in joint federal/provincial funding to create a community hub and interpretive centre through the renovation of two current buildings and one new one. The centre will serve as an anchor product for the tourism experience in the peninsula.

    saltwire.com
• Week of 2023-07-14 to 2023-07-20

  • Statistics Canada released figures showing that Canada’s inflation rate rose 2.8% year over year in June. P.E.I. had the lowest year-over-year increase at 0.2%, while Newfoundland and Labrador’s inflation rate was 1.7%, N.S. was 1.9%, and N.B. was 2.1%.

    thewave.ca

  • Moncton council has voted in favour of Icon Development’s proposal to build a mixed-use building of six to 30 floors at Main and Harper streets. If built as proposed, it will be Moncton’s tallest building and would include 288 residential units.

    cbc.ca

  • Moncton's fire chief says that as the city grows and builds more highrises, there is a need for more training, equipment, and personnel as a result. The department has 21 firefighters available on duty per shift, but highrise fires require more staff.

    cbc.ca

  • The regional tourism marketing organization for Moncton-Dieppe says tourism activity looks to be returning to pre-pandemic levels. Tourism operators state the first quarter of 2023 has been exceptional and have had good occupancy levels.

    thewave.ca

  • N.B. dairy farmers state that the amount of recent rain has caused delays in harvesting, which will result in low quality grass for the cows. This can result in less milk being produced and farmers having to buy other quality feed, which can be costly.

    cbc.ca

  • A developer is proposing to build four apartment complexes off of Jacques Street in Shediac, if the property can be rezoned. The proposed development would have 600 residential units, recreational facilities like a pickleball court, pool, and a BBQ area.

    thewave.ca

  • Saint John council is considering a rezoning application for a proposed 80 apartment development in Saint John’s west side. The plan is to build two 24-unit buildings and a 30-unit building between Green Head Road and Violet Street.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Independent woodlot owners in N.B. are concerned that the province’s new timber royalty system will result in forestry companies paying much lower royalties than before. N.B. sawmills posted record incomes in 2021 and 2022, as lumber prices soared.

    cbc.ca

  • Nav Canada, which oversees Canada's air traffic controllers, says it's recruiting and training over 400 new staff in order to address a labour shortage across Canada. During the pandemic Nav Canada cut 720 jobs and terminated its training program.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-07-07 to 2023-07-13

  • According to the Nurses Association of New Brunswick, the province has registered 657 new nurses since December, with 464 coming from within Canada and 148 recruited internationally. During the same period in 2022 only 224 new nurses were registered.

    cbc.ca

  • Customers of New Brunswick-based UNI Financial Cooperation have been unable to access their online banking accounts for days, as the bank experiences technical problems, as it transitions from its previous service agreement with Quebec’s Desjardins bank.

    globalnews.ca

  • New Brunswick’s three airports are seeing an upswing in travel this summer. At the Moncton airport passenger traffic is up 15% over last year, Fredericton is up 35% in comparison, and flights through Saint John have mainly been full.

    cbc.ca

  • A new business, Broken Pieces Rage Room, has opened up on Rothesay Avenue in Saint John. Guests pay to smash various objects using a range of weapons, while dressed in head-to-toe safety gear.

    cbc.ca

  • A new restaurant, Twelve82, has opened near the Hartland Covered Bridge. The restaurant is made from a shipping container and its name refers to the bridge’s length, which is 1,282 feet. Diners can choose from burgers, poutine, chicken or even fish tacos.

    cbc.ca

  • The residential apartment building development known as “The Vistas” will have its first building with 87 units completed in the spring of 2024. Located at 60-80 Technology Drive in Saint John, the idea is to build four additional buildings based on demand.

    thewave.ca

  • Fredericton Transit is looking to offer Sunday service, but the drivers' collective agreement states they get double pay on Sundays -up to $54 an hour. Moncton-area bus drivers get regular pay on Sundays and those in Saint John get an extra $1.25 an hour.

    cbc.ca

  • The Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB) expects to process around 1,000 applications from nurses originally from outside of Canada by the end of the year. The NANB currently has 400 applications yet to be processed.

    L'Acadie Nouvelle (capacadie.com)

  • After receiving an anonymous $2M donation, Riverview's planned recreation centre will add two extra swim lanes to its proposed pool and look at adding an outdoor skate park. Work is expected to start in 2024 at an estimated cost of $39 to $46M.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-30 to 2023-07-06

  • Jenna's Nut-Free Dessertery has expanded with a second location in Fredericton, which features a restaurant and store that offer nut-free items. The operation has also expanded into catering and food production, and even has a product sold in Sobeys.

    cbc.ca

  • Maple syrup producers in N.B. have been given access to an additional 5,000 hectares of Crown land over the next five years, which will allow the industry to expand further. New producers that enter the market are required to have at least 5,000 taps.

    cbc.ca

  • NB Power and ARC Clean Technology have submitted a licence to prepare site application for a small modular reactor development in New Brunswick. The company plans to have its reactor up and running at Point Lepreau by 2030.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Electric Vehicle (EV) Association of Atlantic Canada says that with the carbon tax driving up fuel costs, there should be increased interest in people buying EVs. Rebates for EVs can also be as high as $10K in provinces like N.S. and N.B.

    globalnews.ca

  • The New Brunswick government has made an agreement to provide $22M to help fund housing and roads projects in Neqotkuk First Nation. It is hoped that it will help address the housing shortage and repair its crumbling roads.

    cbc.ca

  • N.B farmers report that heavy rainfall and a lack of sun will cause crop delays and reduce overall crop production. The excessive rain caused delays in planting crops and in harvesting, which farmers state is bad for business.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2023-06-23 to 2023-06-29

  • My City Life, a consignment store with unique products, is opening its fourth location in Saint John at the Parkway Mall in July and will follow with a fifth location in Bedford, N.S. More stores will open across the Maritimes over the next 10 years.

    thewave.ca

  • A new vintage clothing store has opened in Saint John called Park Plaza Vintage. The store has opened at suite 101 - 615 Rothesay Ave and will feature unique and original pieces of clothing from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

    thewave.ca

  • Beer Bread, a new pizza restaurant is opening in Uptown Saint John this month. The eatery will open at 7 Market Square and will feature Detroit-style pizza.

    thewave.ca

  • Fisheries and Oceans has announced that it will double the redfish experimental quota in Atlantic Canada, but N.S.-based Ka'le Bay Seafoods states that there is already too much redfish in the market and this will cause the price to drop.

    Telegram

  • A New Brunswick research team has been studying the province's community care sector for nearly two years and has released findings of their research. They found that the sector is in crisis, with underpaid staff, tight schedules, and retention issues.

    Telegram

  • Moncton city council has awarded a $60K contract to CBRE Ltd. to study the feasibility of including a convention-centre space in a private development downtown. It is expected that the feasibility report will be ready to go to council in the fall.

    cbc.ca

  • Many airlines are struggling to find qualified pilots, due to a limited labour supply and greater demand for air travel. Transport Canada says about 1,100 pilot licences were granted annually prior to the pandemic, compared to under 500 in 2020 and 238 in 2022.

    vocm.com

  • The New Brunswick Council of Nursing Homes, which represents 4,600 nursing home workers across N.B., is disappointed by the government’s offer of a 6% wage increase over 5 years. Workers include laundry and resident attendants, and licensed practical nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • A million-dollar housing development slated to be built in Richibucto to help address the housing crisis, has fallen through due to the smell from the Coastal Shell Products plant. The developer was told that the land can’t be used for residential use.

    globalnews.ca

  • A combined $62M will go toward converting Fredericton’s justice building on Queen Street to become the new University of New Brunswick faculty of law. It is estimated that 350 new law students will enrol in the faculty over the next five years.

    cbc.ca

  • IBM’s client innovation centre in Fredericton has announced that it has cut an unspecified number of positions. The centre when first announced, stated it would create up to 250 full-time jobs, such as developers, testers, business analysts, and designers.

    Daily Gleaner

  • Ottawa announced a new express entry stream for health professionals in the economic immigration program. Invitations will go to foreign doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and optometrists to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • Elections NB is looking to recruit 49 returning officers for the 2024 provincial election and has opened an online recruitment portal. Recruitment will end on September 15 and training is expected to begin in March 2024.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-06-16 to 2023-06-22

  • Over 35,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada employed at the Canada Revenue Agency have ratified new collective agreements with the Treasury Board of Canada. The deal includes wage increases of 12.6% over 4 years and protections against contracting out.

    vocm.com

  • New Brunswick Health Council's latest survey reports that only one in three people can see their family doctor or nurse practitioner within five days. When unable to get an appointment they have turned to pharmacists, ER departments, and walk-in clinics for help.

    cbc.ca

  • The YMCA of Greater Saint John will spend $2.3M to turn the Glenn Carpenter Centre into a year-round facility, as part of their five-year plan. They also want to open four new child care centres by 2027, which would require at least 100 to 150 new staff.

    Telegraph Journal

  • New research by TD Bank has found that more women with young children are joining the Canadian labour force, due to more flexible work environments and better access to child care. The participation rate has increased to 78.8%, since the summer of 2020.

    Globe & Mail

  • The federal government will help over 170,000 fossil fuel workers move to a cleaner energy economy, which will include roughly 300 workers at the Belledune plant. It is unclear what will replace coal at the plant or if jobs would remain at the facility.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Moncton city council saw details on a proposed 30-storey residential tower with 288 units, as well as 10 two-storey townhouses. If approved to be built, it would also have commercial and retail space and would be the tallest building in the city.

    cbc.ca

  • The Greater Moncton Refugee Hiring Event was held on June 20 at the Hyatt Hotel. Around 70 candidates met with employers such as Apex Industries, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Greystone Energy Systems, CIBC and J.D. Irving Limited.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-09 to 2023-06-15

  • The first privately run cannabis store in N.B., Cannabis Xpress, opened in Grand Bay-Westfield. Private retailers have to buy its supplies from Cannabis NB. Cannabis Xpress expects to also open locations in Hampton and Saint Andrews in the coming months.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The RCMP is now offering pre-posting agreements, which will ensure that successful N.B. applicants can be posted back in the province once they graduate from the RCMP Depot Academy in Regina. New members are typically posted to remote parts of Canada.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Each month seniors retire from the workforce and there are not enough people entering the labour force to replace these workers. This compounds the existing shortage of workers in the labour market. N.B. has as many as 17,000 job vacancies each quarter, which is why the Retiree Employment Agency works to fill jobs.

    Daily Gleaner

  • APEC reports have identified over 500 major capital projects in the region this year, with an investment value of $225 billion, which is 48% higher than in 2022. There are concerns about a shortage of labour and worker retention, due in part to lack of housing and healthcare issues.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The national unemployment rate rose to 5.2% last month, the first increase since August of last year. New Brunswick's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1% as a 1,200 increase in employment was coupled with a matching increase in the size of its labour force. The P.E.I. labour market lost 500 jobs and saw its unemployment rate increase slightly to 7.2%.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Richibucto's Coastal Shell Products has re-opened after it was shut down by the province for improper storage of shell waste. The 2,800 m2 facility employs about 12 people and processes lobster, crab, and shrimp shells, which is used in fertilizer and animal feed.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Irving Oil's announcement that its strategic review could involve a full or partial sale of the company could result in noticeable job losses. About 4,000 workers are currently employed at the refinery in the province.

    cbc.ca

  • Based on a report commissioned by the Restigouche Regional Service Commission, 205 additional housing units will be required per year in this region by 2026. In fact, a large number of immigrants are drawn to the region since baby boomers are retiring.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2023-06-02 to 2023-06-08

  • The Pleasant Valley Market has opened in Sussex at 210 Main Street and has more to offer than a typical convenience store. The location offers a number of takeout options, as well as fresh produce, in-house butchered meats, and an area for local vendors.

    thewave.ca

  • Salisbury’s Green Pig Country Market has begun reconstruction work to replace the old market that burned down last year. The new building will be about double the size of the old space at 8,000 square feet, which is planned to open in the Spring of 2024.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions (NBCNHU) wants funding guarantees and real wage increases in its bargaining contract. Its last contract expired in October and the sector has seen staff shortages and experienced high turnover.

    thewave.ca

  • A new report commissioned by the Housing Hub of New Brunswick says that housing starts are not keeping up with population growth, which is expected to result in a shortfall of almost 10,500 housing units by year's end. A lack of workers is cited as a cause.

    Daily Gleaner

  • City officials state that the Saint John waterfront revitalization project is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023. The Fundy Quay project can now begin at the site, which will eventually see five buildings built with 677 residential units.

    cbc.ca

  • Port Saint John’s new terminal will begin receiving ships in mid-June, which has two super-post-Panamax quay cranes that are capable of handling ships up to 10,000 TEUs. In 2022 the port handled a record 150,000 TEUs and is looking to increase capacity.

    thewave.ca

  • The $97M Burchill Wind Energy project is officially up and running with 10 turbines that will provide about 15% of Saint John’s power. The project was done by Natural Forces, in partnership with Tobique First Nation and will create a number of new jobs.

    ctvnews.ca

  • A report prepared for the city of Moncton by SHS Consulting has found that the average price of a home in the Moncton-area rose 65.4% between 2017 and 2022. The average rental price, meanwhile, shot up by a more moderate but still-elevated 38% during the same period. Gaps identified include a lack of apartments and reduced accessibility.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-26 to 2023-06-01

  • CFAI, a community radio station based in Edmundston, laid off five salaried employees on Tuesday. Namely, those affected were two hosts, a journalist, a member of the administration, and a sales and advertising representative. The reason for these layoffs was not specified.

    Radio communautaire néo-brunswickoise : cinq employés de CFAI licenciés | Radio-Canada.ca

  • Based on a report titled “Housing demand by region in New Brunswick” there will be a shortage of 10,000 homes in the province by the end of 2023. The report includes some solutions, and the government is developing a strategy to respond to the crisis.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The Nurses Association of New Brunswick announced that the province will speed up registration for nurses from 14 countries. As a result, these nurses will now get their registration in 14 days instead of 12 to 18 months.

    radio-canada.ca (available in French only)

  • A mobile X-ray service is being extended to all long-term-care residents in New Brunswick. The provincial government allowed $1.1M for the program, saying it will ease the congestion in emergencies. The next step is to add staffing and train technicians.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Lobster fishers in the Acadian Peninsula are generally satisfied with the price of lobster, which fluctuates between $7.00 and $7.50 per pound. This attractive price compensates for the average level of catches, especially around Caraquet.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • With more than 3,000 unfilled job openings, Envision Saint John has initiated a new campaign designed to both attract newcomers and retain its current workforce. The main focus of the strategy is on youth (16 to 25) and older workers (25 to 45).

    Moncton Times & Transcript

  • A report by the Youthful Cities Urban Work Index highlights the city of Moncton as one of the most ideal locations in Canada for youth (15-29) to secure a job. The report looked at 30 cities and compared 10 indicators such as education, affordability, health, equity, and transportation.

    Moncton Times & Transcript

  • Ottawa has launched a category-based selection for Canada’s economic immigration management system, Express Entry. Special focus will be on workers with French or experience in healthcare, trades, transport, agriculture and STEM professions.

    canada.ca

  • Fisheries and Oceans have extended the closure of the baby eel fishery in the Maritimes for another 45 days. The extension takes place amid ongoing concerns over conservation and poaching. Fishery officers have made over 110 arrests since the fishery closed in mid-April.

    globalnews.ca

  • A new survey from BDO Debt Solutions reports that over 25% of Canadians are considering taking on extra work (or a second job) to pay down their debts. It also states that about a third of Canadians find themselves so deep in debt that they are not sure what to do about it.

    thewave.ca

  • The federal government’s Tourism Relief Fund will provide $6.7M in funding for a total of 53 projects across New Brunswick. Recipients include Camping Plage Aboiteau Beach, Salty Towers Inn, and Metepenagiag Heritage Park Inc.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-05-19 to 2023-05-25

  • Air Canada will add two new flights out of the Saint John Airport this summer. The airline will offer an additional daily flight to Toronto and Montreal. Flight capacity was also increased to Toronto at the Fredericton and Moncton airports.

    cbc.ca

  • The Cask and Kettle opened a third location at the Westfield Golf and Country Club in Grand Bay-Westfield. Plans are also in the works to open a production brewery on Somerset Street and eventually have a taproom on site.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Outdoor retailer Mountain Equipment Co. is opening a new store in Moncton this August and is recruiting for various positions. The 1,500-square-metre store will be stocked with various outdoor gear and clothing accessories.

    globalnews.ca

  • The organization that promotes the Moncton region says that visitor spending in 2022 was just shy of pre-pandemic levels at $565M. With various major events and concerts scheduled for 2023, the city already has some full hotel bookings for this summer.

    cbc.ca

  • The latest assessments from Fisheries and Oceans Canada states that the Maritime lobster population is strong and the fishery is sustainable, despite warming ocean temperatures. Lobsters can tolerate a wider range of temperatures than other species.

    cbc.ca

  • A Moncton economist says that increased pressure on the housing market is due in large part to population growth. Labour shortages are a challenge as well, as the number of construction workers is essentially unchanged from 10 years ago. Nearly a third of the construction workers are expected to retire within five years.

    cbc.ca

  • WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (union) representing its pilots reached a last-minute deal on May 18, averting a strike planned for the following day. Key issues addressed in the tentative agreement include job security, working conditions and wages.

    cbc.ca

  • Beer Bread, a Detroit-style pizzeria will open an uptown Saint John location at 7 Market Square this June.

    thewave.ca

  • In March the number of Canadians receiving jobless benefits through Employment Insurance fell to a record low, as the labour market remained tight. This was the lowest number of regular EI beneficiaries going back to 1997.

    theglobeandmail.com
• Week of 2023-05-12 to 2023-05-18

  • Through the Canada-New Brunswick Early Learning Child Care Agreement, the province will create 603 new early learning and child care spaces in 24 communities. Almost 400 spaces will be available in September, with more to follow.

    thewave.ca

  • Horizon Health recruited almost 2,400 new health care workers in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, despite a net gain of 550 employees. Overall there were 528 registered nurses, 337 licenced practical nurses and 523 personal care attendants recruited to N.B.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Saint John Newcomers Centre is heading a one-year pilot project that will help international students get matched with local employers. The program conducts a skills assessment and creates a structured employment plan to connect with suitable jobs.

    thewave.ca

  • Pharmacists in N.B. are now able to provide more primary care services for various minor illnesses and conditions, such as eczema, impetigo, lyme disease, and acne. This should help doctors deal with more complicated ailments.

    cbc.ca

  • An residential area on Hillsborough road in Riverview has been rezoned to allow for the construction of a 36-unit and 18-unit building. Riverview currently has a 0.2% vacancy rate according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

    globalnews.ca

  • The New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation has given the government a 100-day strike notice, if a collective agreement isn’t reached by then. A conciliation process will begin in June, but if a deal isn’t reached then the school year could be impacted.

    globalnews.ca

  • Restaurants Canada is concerned about the federal deadline of Dec 31, for restaurants to pay back their COVID-19 loans. According to the association bankruptcies are up 116% since 2022, as businesses face rising costs, labour shortages and supply constraints.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-05-05 to 2023-05-11

  • The New Brunswick government awarded a 10-year, $30M health services contract to Moncton's Medavie Blue Cross. Medavie administers about $80M in health, dental and other benefits for the provincial government and has held the contract since the 1960s .

    cbc.ca

  • Chief Fuels plans to open a 26 megawatt cryptocurrency mine in Grand Falls. The company is proceeding on schedule and expects to be operational in early 2024. Crypto mines run thousands of computers that conduct millions of transactions to earn cryptocurrency.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.B. Construction Association reports that over the next five years, the province is going to see a steep reduction in the skilled trades workforce, which currently has 2,000 job vacancies across the province. Fewer high school graduates are now interested in the trades.

    Telegram

  • The Saint John Airport reported having welcomed 149,000 passengers in 2022, down significantly from the 281,000 figure in 2019. Officials state that the problem is that there is not enough aircrafts visiting the city.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Fat Pie Shop, a new bakery and Euro deli, will open in St. Stephen this June. It will specialize in cream cheese pies and Italian desserts, such as tiramisu and cannoli.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The Saint John campus of the New Brunswick Community College is introducing a new two-year carpentry co-op program that will target international students. The aim is to address labour shortages in the industry and help fill future job vacancies.

    Telegraph Journal

  • The Nummy Snack Bar opened on the 5th of May at 24 King Street in Saint Andrews. Three employees have been hired to work at the takeout and smoothie bar, which will offer various meal options such as vegetarian, curry, and local dishes.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. Government will provide $970K in funding to the Université de Moncton so it can expand its nurse practitioner program. With the expansion, the program will now by full-time, which should increase the number of yearly graduates from three to 12.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-04-28 to 2023-05-04

  • Treasury Board has reached a tentative agreement with PSAC and its 120,000 federal government workers. The deal includes a 12.6% wage increase over four years, a lump sum payment of $2500, and additional language on remote work.

    cbc.ca

  • The union representing the 35,000 employees of CRA has agreed to a tentative deal with the federal government. The deal includes a 12.6% wage increase over four years and a lump-sum pensionable payment of $2500, as well as other arrangements.

    cbc.ca

  • The province has approved the use of 20,000 hectares of land to be used for wild blueberry development in northeastern N.B. at the former Tracadie firing range. Wild blueberry development in the area is expected to generate over $610M over the next 12 years.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Physician Registry officially launched on May 1 in the four Atlantic provinces. Physicians licensed in any of the four provinces can now opt in to the registry and practise in another Atlantic province.

    novascotia.ca

  • Special K Fisheries, a fish processing plant on Grand Manan Island, was destroyed in a fire early this month. There were no reports of workers injured from the fire at the plant, which is one of the major employers on the island.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Saint John Regional Hospital will undergo $155M in renovations, along with the construction of a two-storey addition to the facility. Phase one has already begun with preparing the site and the facility is expected to be completed and opened by 2029.

    thewave.ca

  • The N.B. government will reduce the royalties it charges for wood cut on public land, just seven months after it raised royalty rates. Softwood royalties will drop by 46%. The reduced rates will cost the province about $50M and will hurt private woodlots.

    cbc.ca

  • Chez Camille, a popular restaurant in Cap-Pelé, has reopened almost a year after it burned to the ground. The new restaurant is state of the art and triple the size of the original building.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2023-04-21 to 2023-04-27

  • The new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, will provide $8.5M a year to help support N.B’s agriculture sector. Its aim is to improve competitiveness, innovation and resiliency for the industry.

    thewave.ca

  • New Brunswick will invest $2.5M over the next five years in a new medical student scholarship fund. It is expected that up to 300 medical students will benefit from the fund, which will be delivered through the New Brunswick Medical Education Foundation.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The N.B. Maple Syrup Association reports that maple production this year was at its lowest level since 2018, due mainly to drastic changes in the weather. Maple exports have grown by 20% every year for the past three years, which will likely result in some shortages this year.

    cbc.ca

  • Changes made in legislation last fall has allowed New Brunswick's first private cataract surgery clinic to open in Bathurst. The N.B. government has imposed safeguards to avoid the risks of more private care, but is allowing more cataract clinics to open.

    cbc.ca

  • According to an annual survey, the employment rate of graduates from the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) has reached a five-year high. The survey reveals that 96% of NBCC’s Class of 2021 were employed more than two years after graduation. Around 93% were employed in N.B.

    thewave.ca

  • Giant Tiger, the Canadian discount store, is planning to open a new location in Saint John at 450 Westmorland Road on November 4. The retailer already operates a store in the city’s uptown and has plans to open five other Atlantic locations.

    nbnewsnow.ca

  • The N.B. government has allocated nearly $45M for wage increases for personal support workers and special care home workers. It is hoped that the $2.50 an-hour increase will help with staffing shortages and retention issues in special care homes.

    globalnews.ca

  • Three levels of government will provide $67M in funding to build a sports and wellness multiplex in Miramichi. Construction is expected to start next year on the facility which will include an arena, gym, walking track, swimming pool, and community space.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-04-14 to 2023-04-20

  • Eight nurse navigator positions are being created in a partnership between Horizon and Vitalité Health Networks, who will assist in getting cancer patients the care they need. They will be part of the Cancer Patient Navigation Program.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Faced with a shortage of daycare spaces, the YMCA of Greater Saint John is looking to open five new childcare locations in the region. This could add up to 300 spaces over five years, as it takes time to get licensed and building the workforce.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Canada’s national unemployment rate was at 5% in March and a labour boom is being seen across the country. For the first time ever there were eight provinces that had unemployment rates below 6%. The labour participation rate was also a healthy 65.6%.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • The New Brunswick Police Association is critical of the province’s plan to spend an extra $20.5M to hire 80 RCMP officers to address gaps in policing in rural New Brunswick. A labour analyst with the association doesn’t believe it will fix the problem.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Federal staff that belong to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, were walking the picket line on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal with their employer. Striking members include 120,000 Treasury Board and 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency employees.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada have shut down the elver fishery in N.B. and N.S. for 45 days. There were conservation and safety concerns, after reports of violence and overfishing by unauthorized harvesters. Elvers have grown in value in recent years.

    cbc.ca

  • The impending closure of a major Quebec pork plant is expected to impact the pork industry in Atlantic Canada. With no federally regulated hog processor in Atlantic Canada, the closure will cause an oversupply in the Atlantic region.

    cbc.ca

  • Three levels of government have committed $40M in funding to go toward a proposed Riverivew recreation centre. Construction is expected to begin in October and the complex will include a pool, walking track, and a field house.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-04-07 to 2023-04-13

  • Joey's Pizza and Pasta, a local restaurant on York Street in Sackville, was destroyed in a fire on Friday. The restaurant has been in operation since 1988.

    cbc.ca

  • The Public Service Alliance of Canada and its roughly 155,000 workers could go on strike by mid-April, if contract negotiations fail. The processing of immigration applications, employment services, and travellers at the airport and border could be impacted.

    thewave.ca

  • A new report from the Royal Bank of Canada states that around 40% of Canadian farm operators are expected to retire over the next decade. It also expects a shortage of 24,000 general farm, nursery and greenhouse workers over that time.

    thewave.ca

  • A $3.5M project is being undertaken to expand the YMCA Glenn Carpenter Centre in Saint John and make it a year-round facility. The facility currently only operates 10 weeks a year and $2.3M will be spent to build a multi-purpose building for various events.

    thewave.ca

  • New Brunswick has launched a new online mapping tool that determines land suitability for farmer’s crops based on the type of soil, topography and depth of ground water. The tool could also help when deciding to use land for housing development or not.

    thewave.ca

  • Décor and furnishings store My City Life is expanding into a new larger location at the Parkway Mall in Saint John. Renovations are underway at the nearly 10,000 ft2 space and the store expects to open on June 1. They plan to expand across the Maritimes.

    charlottefm.ca
• Week of 2023-03-31 to 2023-04-06

  • New Brunswick’s latest budget has allocated $32.6M to add 80 more RCMP officers, along with creating new major case and organized crime teams. A N.B. criminologist states that social services have a much bigger impact on crime rates than police numbers.

    cbc.ca

  • The N.B. government will provide $500 per hire to eligible restaurants to help fill the roughly 2,500 vacant positions within the province's restaurant industry. Restaurants Canada will administer the funds, which will help with training and advertising.

    Daily Gleaner

  • Cooke Inc.’s Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. received environmental approval to build its $72M land-based salmon post-smolt aquaculture facility. Located in Bayside near Saint Andrews, the project will create 340 direct construction jobs and 222 indirect jobs.

    thewave.ca

  • According to the real estate monitoring firm Zoocasa, Saint John has the most affordable real estate market in Canada. The organization looked at 20 regions across Canada and Saint John’s average home price was $268K, well below the national average of $662K.

    thewave.ca

  • The federal government has increased New Brunswick's immigration allocation by 67% for 2023, with about a third of its 5,500 spaces going to French-speaking immigrants. Additional increases in allocations are expected in both 2024 and 2025.

    Telegraph Journal

  • Ottawa is giving 14% of the Maritime fishery for baby eels (or elvers) to First Nations in N.B. and N.S. without compensating commercial licence holders who could lose millions. The cut will allow the treaty right to fish for a moderate living.

    cbc.ca

  • Ren’s Pets opened its 48th pet food location in Saint John on April 1. The chain also intends on opening new locations in St. John’s and Charlottetown later this year. Nine staff were hired to work at the 10,000-square-foot store.

    thewave.ca

  • The Canadian military has a new recruitment program, called the Naval Experience Program (NEP), where you can join on a one-year contract. The program aims to attract civilians to the Navy, streamline enrolment, reduce training time, and develop sailors.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2023-03-24 to 2023-03-30

  • Flair Airlines will resume flights out of the Saint John airport this summer, with service to Toronto three days a week. Currently, only Air Canada offers passenger service out of Saint John and it will increase its flights out of the airport this summer.

    cbc.ca

  • The Nurses Association of New Brunswick has made changes to speed up the process to recognize credentials of registered nurses from other parts of Canada. Work is also being done to help fast-track international applications, to help address staff shortages.

    cbc.ca

  • Billy’s Seafood Company will open a new location at the Container Village in uptown Saint John this summer. The waterfront venue doesn’t have any other seafood vendors and the restaurant will offer take-out to cruise ship passengers and Uptown patrons.

    thewave.ca

  • The federal government is opening up a new immigration stream this summer, which will bring up to 2,000 refugees per year to Canada. The new program will be dedicated to refugees, but will focus on the skills they're bringing to Canada as well.

    Telegraph Journal

  • A report from the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) shows that not-for-profit CEOs average pay went up by 8.4% in 2022, while senior managers increased 1.2%, and other staff rose 2.0%. Salaries increased the most for those that changed jobs.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The N.B. government has budgeted $96.4M for the public school system next year. A portion of that money will be used to hire more classroom teachers, but its unknown how much will go toward addressing the current shortage of teachers and supply teachers.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian government released a report titled - Developing Greater Labour Protections for Gig Workers. Steps will be taken by the government to update the Canada Labour Code to help people such as self-employed truck drivers, couriers, freelancers, and artists.

    insurancebusinessmag.com
• Week of 2023-03-17 to 2023-03-23

  • The minimum wage for federal workers will increase to $16.65/hr as of April 1. Federally regulated private sector employers include, among others, airlines, banks, grain elevators, telecom companies, and First Nations band councils.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal and N.B. government will invest $800K to help Crosby’s automate its production line and hire a supply chain manager. The company will install a robotic case packer, cartoner and palletizer – which is expected to increase production by 15%.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Dave Shoots Bookseller will close its shop at 40 Coburg Street in Saint John by the end of 2023. After being in operation for 23 years, the bookstore will transition to an online platform, due to in part to growing input costs, such as higher rent. A number of Maritime used book stores have closed in recent years.

    cbc.ca

  • O’Hickey’s Irish Pub has opened in the historical Morrison Building in downtown Fredericton. Although the owner encountered numerous challenges to renovating the building, such as finding materials and having enough labour to complete the work, business has been brisk.

    globalnews.ca

  • New Brunswick will invest $6.87M in an “earn as you learn” program, which will be aimed at the manufacturing sector's labour pool. The work-integrated learning model will be conducted by UNB, NBCC, and UK partner Marshall Skills Academy.

    thewave.ca

  • Repsol has decided to cancel its plans to expand its Saint John LNG terminal that would export liquefied natural gas to Europe. The decision could be bad news for the province, which had hoped to revive shale gas development in N.B. and expand its market into Europe.

    cbc.ca

  • Pomona Raw Fusion Smoothie Bar will be opening a location this summer at the Container Village on Saint John's waterfront. This will be Pomona’s second location since opening in Bouctouche three years ago.

    charlottefm.ca

  • N.B. contractors say a lack of workers has lead to the turning down of projects and delays in completion. The province’s construction association estimates that there is currently a need for 2000 additional workers and up to 5000 over five years.

    cbc.ca

  • A new report entitled the Atlantic Canada Momentum Index says that the region is now performing at a level comparable to the national average. Atlantic Canada's growing population has led to greater economic growth, despite contributing to increased housing costs.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-03-10 to 2023-03-16

  • Work will begin in late March to build a 49-unit apartment building at 50 Technology Drive in Saint John. NextPort Properties is developing the project, which will be called Burlington Flats.

    thewave.ca

  • More than 100 stakeholders have come together to address labour shortages within Canada's agriculture workforce. Canada's agriculture industry contributes over $130B to the national economy, but needs a stable and skilled workforce to remain competitive.

    Other Sources

  • N.B.-based McCain Foods announced that it will spend $600M to expand its potato processing facility in southern Alberta, creating 260 new jobs. McCain has spent $157M over the past five years expanding its two facilities in New Brunswick.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • U-Haul intends to buy the property at 1382 Hickey Road in order to build a 20,000-square-foot self-storage facility in Saint John. It is estimated that at least 15 temporary construction jobs will be created and will require 10 people to staff the store.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Results from a 2022 national CFIA soil sampling survey show that no potato wart was detected in samples taken from fields in N.S. and N.B. Seed potatoes from P.E.I. are still not allowed in the U.S. after potato wart was found in two fields in 2021.

    charlottefm.ca

  • A Calgary-based low-cost airline, Lynx Air, plans to fly into the Fredericton International Airport beginning on June 12. The airline plans to offer flights into the Calgary International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

    nbnewsnow.ca

  • Fredericton council has approved the proposed construction of a 147-unit apartment building at 111 Duncan Lane. Some councillors expressed concern about the lack of public transit and sidewalks in that area.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-03-03 to 2023-03-09

  • ESDC has a new Skilled Trades apprenticeship program, which will help small to medium-sized employers to hire first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal trades. Included are plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and A/C mechanics, and steamfitter/pipefitters.

    mechanicalbusiness.com

  • The N.B. Government is reviving the New Brunswick Housing Corporation in order to address the housing crisis in the province. Fifteen positions will be created at the corporation, which will bring all stakeholders together to tackle the housing situation.

    globalnews.ca

  • Work has begun to expand the ambulatory care clinic at the Saint John Regional Hospital. The space will be doubled in size to 14,700 ft2 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024. The hospital foundation raised $12M for the project.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Medavie has donated $100K to NBCC’s School of Health and Wellness, which will go into technology to help reach more learners. The school trains lab assistants, personal support workers, pharmacy techs, practical nurses and respiratory therapists.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Layoff notices were issued to about 75 food service workers at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton. UNB is currently looking for a new company to take over food services, when the current contract with Sodexo Canada ends on May 31.

    cbc.ca

  • Saint John provided $200K each to four affordable housing projects, through the city’s Affordable Housing Grant Program. The successful recipients were Kaleidoscope Social Impact, Kindred Works, Rehabitat, and Steepleview Developments, Inc.

    thewave.ca

  • West Jet has announced that it will be discontinuing flights between Toronto and Moncton as of April 30, 2023. The airline will begin service from Moncton to both Calgary and Edmonton.

    thewave.ca