New investments and fee adjustments to strengthen public safety and justice

Press Release

April 01, 2026

FREDERICTON – The provincial government is investing $423 million in the Department of Justice and Public Safety in 2026-27 to strengthen public safety, modernize justice services and ensure programs remain sustainable.

Key investments include:

• An additional $7 million to support RCMP contract policing, reflecting rising operational costs, including body-worn cameras, the provincial radio system and negotiated salary increases.
• Funding for Technical Inspection Services is increasing by about $1 million to hire more electrical inspectors and support housing development by improving permit and plan review capacity.
• To enhance accountability, $1.1 million is being provided to fully fund the Serious Incident Response Team, including support for Indigenous representation.

“Investing in public safety means making sure our law enforcement agencies have the tools and resources they need, while also strengthening accountability and improving how services are delivered,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin. “These targeted investments will support policing, enhance enforcement and modernize our justice system so we can better respond to the needs of New Brunswickers today and into the future.”

The government is also advancing justice system improvements through digital transformation, including the launch of virtual bail hearings, and the introduction of the Addictions and Mental Health Court Program in Moncton to better support individuals and improve outcomes for communities.

“Modernizing our justice system is about making it more accessible, timely and responsive to the needs of New Brunswickers,” said Justice Minister and Attorney General Rob McKee. “These initiatives will help ensure people get the support they need while improving outcomes for individuals, families and communities.”

The government is also following through on one of the measures presented during pre-budget consultations. It is increasing a number of fees related to several provincial acts to better align with the cost of delivering services. This marks the first broad adjustment of many of these fees in several years.

“Through our pre-budget consultations, we were clear with New Brunswickers that there would be difficult decisions ahead, and adjusting fees was one of the options on the table,” said Gauvin. “Many of these fees have not been updated in years, over 20 in some cases. This step helps ensure we can continue delivering the quality services people rely on every day.”

A number of fees will increase under the following acts:

• Motor Vehicle Act
• Liquor Control Act
• Emergency 911 Act
• Gaming Control Act
• Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act
• Electrical Installation and Inspection Act
• Plumbing Installation and Inspection Act
• Elevators and Lifts Act
• Judicature Act
• Small Claims Act
• Recording of Evidence Act
• Probate Court Act

Fee adjustments will apply across a range of services, including the NB 911 service fee, liquor licensing, vehicle registration, drivers licensing, among others.

For example, drivers will pay an extra 23 cents per month for a driver’s licence, and most vehicle owners will pay an extra $5 to $20 annually to register their vehicles. The NB 911 fee will be increased to $2.59 per month to fund emergency services and support the implementation of next generation 911 services, which will make it possible to share additional details about emergency situations, like photos and videos.

Changes are also coming to probate fees, which have not been updated in more than 25 years and no longer reflect the cost of administrating estate matters through the courts.

Most new fees will come into effect on July 1. The increased NB 911 service fee will be in place beginning Aug. 1.

“We know fee increases are never easy and that is why we have taken a careful, balanced approach,” said McKee. “We are making sure fees better reflect the cost of delivering services, are comparable to other Atlantic provinces, and limit the impact on New Brunswickers.”

The increases are expected to generate $45 million in additional revenue each year.

Media Contact(s)

Paul Bradley, communications, Department of Justice and Public Safety, paul.bradley@gnb.ca.

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