Release
Department of Health, Department of Justice and Public Safety
January 27, 2026
FREDERICTON (GNB) – The government will introduce legislation to add elected members to the boards of New Brunswick’s regional health authorities and expand the membership of those boards.
“Health care is the number one issue for New Brunswickers and improving the system is our government’s top priority,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “Having strong boards of directors for our regional health authorities will help us ensure every New Brunswicker has access to the care they need, close to home, when they need it.”
The boards had previously been composed of both appointed and elected members. Those boards were eliminated in 2022 and replaced by appointed boards in 2023. Dornan said officials will soon begin consultations with the regional health authorities and health system partners toward reintroducing elected representation on the boards in time for the 2030 election cycle.
A Court of King’s Bench judge recently ruled that the 2022 dissolution of the boards failed to consider Charter rights and values.
“Reintroducing elected representation on health authority boards is important, but it is only one part of a much broader picture,” said Justice Minister and Attorney General Robert McKee. “We must ensure future decision-making in health-care governance is guided by a clear legal framework that respects constitutional principles, linguistic rights and the long-term stability of the system.”
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