November 5, 2024
Honourable Jean-Claude D’Amours
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister responsible for Immigration and Minister responsible for Military Affairs
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Dear Minister,
Thank you for accepting to serve New Brunswickers as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister responsible for Immigration and Minister responsible for Military Affairs. I know that your experience as a Member of Parliament, your tenure as an MLA, your time as a councilor, and your experience working with diverse communities has given you the tools to deliver on the priorities of New Brunswickers.
Our government is honoured that New Brunswickers gave us a mandate to implement a vision that so many New Brunswickers helped create. We have the privilege of being entrusted with a mandate to focus on New Brunswickers by working with them and listening to them to create a brighter future we all deserve. It is their expectation of us, and my expectation of you, that we deliver on the promises we’ve made. New Brunswickers need to know that they can trust us, and that we will focus on them.
It is an honour to serve the people of this beautiful province with you. This mandate letter is intended to communicate our government’s intentions and expectations of your portfolio, and to begin the process of accountability so New Brunswickers know for what they can hold us accountable.
Our platform focuses on the priorities that matter most to the people of this province. It reflects the stories and solutions shared by New Brunswickers and it is centred on what we can achieve together. In addition to our priorities, I will also share my expectations of how we act as a government, and as ministers.
GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES
- Healthcare
- Affordability and Housing
- Education
- Economic Development
- Environment
- Leadership You Can Trust
As Minister, you will contribute to all the pillar priorities. You are expected to support this work and are accountable to deliver on the priority areas under your portfolio as outlined below.
Measurable Outcomes
- Establish strategic partnerships and agreements to leverage federal funding.
- It is expected that you will work with staff to determine the appropriate measures / outcomes for the commitments below.
As Support
November 5, 2024
Honourable Jean-Claude D’Amours
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister responsible for Immigration and Minister responsible for Military Affairs
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Dear Minister,
Thank you for accepting to serve New Brunswickers as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister responsible for Immigration and Minister responsible for Military Affairs. I know that your experience as a Member of Parliament, your tenure as an MLA, your time as a councilor, and your experience working with diverse communities has given you the tools to deliver on the priorities of New Brunswickers.
Our government is honoured that New Brunswickers gave us a mandate to implement a vision that so many New Brunswickers helped create. We have the privilege of being entrusted with a mandate to focus on New Brunswickers by working with them and listening to them to create a brighter future we all deserve. It is their expectation of us, and my expectation of you, that we deliver on the promises we’ve made. New Brunswickers need to know that they can trust us, and that we will focus on them.
It is an honour to serve the people of this beautiful province with you. This mandate letter is intended to communicate our government’s intentions and expectations of your portfolio, and to begin the process of accountability so New Brunswickers know for what they can hold us accountable.
Our platform focuses on the priorities that matter most to the people of this province. It reflects the stories and solutions shared by New Brunswickers and it is centred on what we can achieve together. In addition to our priorities, I will also share my expectations of how we act as a government, and as ministers.
GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES
- Healthcare
- Affordability and Housing
- Education
- Economic Development
- Environment
- Leadership You Can Trust
As Minister, you will contribute to all the pillar priorities. You are expected to support this work and are accountable to deliver on the priority areas under your portfolio as outlined below.
Measurable Outcomes
- Establish strategic partnerships and agreements to leverage federal funding.
- It is expected that you will work with staff to determine the appropriate measures / outcomes for the commitments below.
As Support
PLATFORM THEME |
COMMITMENT |
LEAD |
Healthcare - Caring for the People Who Care for You |
Implement innovative approaches to recruit healthcare professionals, including nurses and doctors. |
DH |
Healthcare - Healthcare for All |
Make contraception free. |
DH |
Affordability and Housing - Affording the Basics |
Temporarily remove the provincial sales tax (PST) on new multi-unit housing construction projects to help encourage the development of affordable housing – something other Atlantic provinces have already done. |
FTB |
Education - Nourishing Kids, Nourishing Minds |
Provide nutritious universal free breakfast and pay-what-you-can lunches to all New Brunswick students leveraging local, New Brunswick food where possible. |
EECD |
Education - Help Kids Get the Best Start |
Continue implementing $10-a-day childcare across the province, making it more accessible. |
EECD |
Education - Help Kids Get the Best Start |
Eliminate the 4000-child waitlist for affordable childcare. |
EECD |
Education - Support for Post-Secondary Education |
Work with universities and colleges to develop long-term strategies for student housing.
|
PETL |
Economic Development - Addressing Workforce Needs |
Focus immigration pathways on critical labour needs like healthcare, building trades and education, and supporting newcomers to make New Brunswick home. |
PETL |
Economic Development - Addressing Workforce Needs |
Review and simplify the foreign credential recognition process and let people get to work. |
PETL |
Economic Development - Investing in Good Paying Jobs |
Increase New Brunswick exports by diversifying our international markets and working with our Canadian neighbours to remove trade and credential barriers posing economic roadblocks. |
ONB |
Economic Development - Investing in Good Paying Jobs |
Deliver an energy plan that provides affordable, reliable, clean energy for New Brunswickers and New Brunswick businesses. · While we move to a 100 percent non-emitting grid, we will work with the federal government to ensure big emitters bear the brunt of the price on carbon. |
Energy |
Environment |
Implement a coastal erosion plan to protect communities. |
ECC |
Leadership You Can Trust |
Appoint a Deputy Minister to lead the Official Languages Secretariat, establish a Standing Committee on Official Languages, and implement recommendations of the McLaughlin/Finn report. |
Premier’s Office |
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CROWN ENTITIES
In addition to your other responsibilities, you are the Minister responsible for:
- Order of New Brunswick Advisory Council
Government is responsible for the legislative, regulatory, and public policy frameworks in which Crown entities operate. As Minister you are expected to uphold your statutory responsibilities associated with these entities.
HOW WE WILL WORK
Our government is committed to evidence-based decision-making across all departments. We will operate under an ‘open by default’ principle to improve transparency and trust in government.
We will “get out of the office” and engage authentically with New Brunswickers, communities, stakeholders, and experts inspired by the disability advocacy principle of “Nothing about us without us”.
We recognize that one size does not fit all – that some communities will need different things to thrive and our legislation, policies and programs should be designed to support those unique differences.
We will prioritize partnerships, trusting and empowering the people and organizations on the ground working most closely with New Brunswickers.
The Official Languages Act, which guarantees the equality of our official languages and linguistic communities, is an integral part of our culture, our history and our future as a province. I expect us all to work together to show leadership to enable New Brunswick to fulfill its role as a leader in official languages in the country and the world.
We commit to rebuilding relationships with First Nations based on a nation-to-nation relationship that establishes trust and a shared understanding of treaty obligations.
We will be a government that cares for all New Brunswickers and that does our best to bring people together. New Brunswickers have placed their trust in us, and we will work every day to hold that trust.
I expect all ministers to serve with the highest personal and professional integrity. As a Cabinet Minister, you must follow conflict of interest rules, and the conduct outlined in the Minister’s Handbook. Our Westminster system relies on cabinet confidentiality and solidarity.
I expect you to always respect your Cabinet and Caucus colleagues, as well as those MLAs who represent different political parties.
I also expect you to develop a professional relationship with your Deputy Minister and other officials in your department. I expect your officials to keep you fully briefed on matters pertaining to your portfolio. I request that you be accessible to such officials, to seek and hear their advice, their concerns, and understand they are there to serve our government in a non-partisan manner.
Members of the Executive Council and their staff are responsible to contribute to a respectful workplace environment at GNB. A respectful workplace values diversity and inclusion, courteous conduct, equality, positive communication, and professional working relationships. Neither GNB nor I will condone or tolerate any form of harassment in the workplace.
We are going to lead with a balanced approach. That means we will watch the bottom line and deliver fiscal responsibility while we improve the services that New Brunswickers need, like health care and education and an affordable place to call home.
I look forward to the results we will achieve together for New Brunswickers. Thank you for joining me in service to our beloved province.
Sincerely,
______________________
Premier
Honourable Susan Holt
c.c.: Clerk of the Executive Council and Head of the Public Service