News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour tabled its $668.96 million budget for 2023-24 today at the legislative assembly.

The budget represents an increase of 1.9 per cent or $12.5 million from last year’s budget.

“This budget further demonstrates our commitment to post-secondary education and to making it more affordable and accessible for students,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder. “We are also incredibly proud to provide the most significant budget increase for our public library system in over a decade. This will ensure libraries are appropriately staffed and New Brunswickers are better served by these important community hubs.”

Some highlights of the 2023-24 budget include:

Post-Secondary Education

Publicly funded universities will receive up to $247.9 million in operating assistance, an increase of $8.4 million over 2022-23. Building on a formula introduced last fiscal year, the universities will receive a two per cent operating increase and up to an additional 1.5 per cent in performance-based funding based upon enrolment.

An additional $7.6 million will be allocated to update the maximum amounts eligible for the New Brunswick Student Loan and the New Brunswick Bursary to align with the increased cost of living. The maximum weekly amounts eligible under the Post-Secondary Student Financial Assistance Act will be increased from $140 to $200 for the loan and from $130 to $160 for the bursary.

Public Libraries

The New Brunswick Public Libraries will receive an additional $1.8 million, which will largely go toward the addition of 33 full-time equivalent jobs across the province.

The jobs will be allocated to the following locations:

·         Dieppe (1)

·         Saint Andrews (1.5)

·         Riverview (1.5)

·         Shediac (1.5)

·         Tracadie (2)

·         Sussex (1.5)

·         Sackville (1)

·         St. Stephen (1)

·         Saint John West (0.5)

·         Saint John East (0.5)

·         Salisbury (1)

·         Chatham (1.5)

·         Woodstock (1)

·         Bathurst (0.5)

·         Florenceville (1)

·         Beresford (1)

·         Perth-Andover (1.5)

·         Grand Falls (1)

·         Petit-Rocher (1)

·         Memramcook (1)

·         Saint-Antoine (1)

·         Newcastle (0.5)

·         Caraquet (1)

·         Petitcodiac (1)

·         Cap-Pelé (1)

·         Saint-Quentin (0.5)

·         Richibucto (1)

·         Lamèque (0.5)

·         Dalhousie (0.5)

·         Bas-Caraquet (0.5)

·         Rogersville (1)

·         Dorchester (0.5)

·         Atholville (0.5)

·         Kennebecasis (1)

Other

·         $14 million will be allocated to reflect the cost to government of eliminating the interest on New Brunswick student loans.

·         As a result of the minimum wage increasing to $14.75, the department has allocated $1.7 million to cover the $1 per-hour increase for minimum wage workers employed by the department.

·         An increase of $1.6 million will be used to cover annual inflationary increases related to out-of-province agreements with universities providing medical seats to New Brunswick students.

·         Three additional apprenticeship officers will be hired to increase services to support labour force growth in priority skilled trades.

Holder said the department’s overall budget will continue to support the post-secondary education system and help ensure the needs of the province’s workforce are met. The Human Rights Commission is also funded through the department.