Utilities and Service Industries

For 2000, total electric power generation in the province increased by 1.4%, while total provincial usage rose 4.6%.
NB Power projects capital expenditures of approximately $50 million for 2001-2002, compared to $38 million the previous year. The company will spend $40 million to study the potential refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station, with a decision on the refurbishment expected in 2002. Also, plans are progressing for a second transmission line with New England to increase transmission capacity.
Bayside Power will be operational in spring 2001. The $180-million conversion of NB Power’s oil-fired unit at Courtenay Bay to natural gas was undertaken by Westcoast Energy.
Enbridge Gas New Brunswick is developing a natural gas distribution system in the province. Pipeline construction for the areas of Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton should be completed and ready for gas by spring 2001. Construction in St. George is complete.
Utilities industries (electric power, gas distribution and water) represent over 4% of New Brunswick’s GDP.
The province released a 10-year energy policy offering direction on the future development of electricity, natural gas and refined petroleum products.

In 2000, employment gains in technology and communication continued; growth of 3.7% was above the provincial average of 1.8%. This group accounts for 6% of New Brunswick’s GDP.
Customer contact centres employ about 12,000 people in the province. New developments for 2000 involved CIBC, CanJet Airlines, Cendant, ICT Group, Minacs Worldwide Inc., NBTel, The Spiegel Group, and Virtual Agent Services Inc. Planned expansions at many of these companies and the arrival of ClientLogic and Qualiflyer point to continued growth for 2001.
The National Research Council’s e-commerce institute in the province is progressing. The $37-million initiative includes the construction of a facility in Fredericton and connected activities in Moncton, Saint John and Miramichi.
NBTel is spending $230 million over 2000 and 2001 to develop broadband Internet services and an interactive television system in New Brunswick. The company will have 70% of the province covered with broadband service in 2001. Vibe, their high-speed Internet service, is widely available and VibeVision, an interactive Web-based TV service, is available in Saint John and Moncton.
In late 2000, Rogers Cable Inc. and Shaw Cable swapped some of their assets. Rogers Cable plans to spend $90 million during the next two years to upgrade the cable network in the province. Rogers AT&T will invest about $15 million to expand its wireless network by adding 21 new sites to existing infrastructure.

Employment in the New Brunswick transportation sector rose 4.2% in 2000, above the provincial increase. The sector accounts for 6% of total GDP.
Maritimes and Northeast completed construction of the $93-million Saint John lateral pipeline. Delivery of natural gas to industrial customers started in December 2000.
Overall tonnage at the port of Saint John was down 1.8% in 2000 compared to last year. Declines in potash shipments, sugar traffic, and salt were offset by increases in forest products and container cargo. More than 101,000 passengers visited the area on 67 cruise calls. Over the next five years the port authority plans to spend $14 million in its capital works and major maintenance program.
The port of Belledune was officially transferred from Transport Canada to the Belledune Port Authority in 2000.
Plans are under way to construct a new $18-million terminal at the Moncton airport with completion by August 2002. The Fredericton Airport Authority has completed negotiations to transfer the airport from Transport Canada to the local group. The deal includes upgrading the terminal and extending a runway.
WestJet Airlines started flights out of Moncton in 2000. CanJet Airlines will offer flights out of Saint John and Royal Airlines will operate out of Fredericton in 2001.

New Brunswick receipts of restaurants, caterers and taverns increased 12.8% to $653 million in 2000. The national increase was 7.5%.
New Brunswick hotels and other lodgings attained an average July-August occupancy rate of 80% for the third consecutive year.
Growth in employment and average weekly earnings for the accommodation and food services sector were each above the provincial average. Employment increased 3.2% in 2000 to 22,400 (representing 6.7% of total employment) and average weekly earnings grew 6.8% compared to 1999.
Accommodation and food services represents almost 3% of the provincial GDP, above each of the four primary sectors.
Tourism revenue in 2000 held steady at last year’s record level of $920 million. While total visitation fell 2.7%, there was a 4.5% increase in US overnight automobile visitation. Nationally, entries from the US were down 1.6%.