New Brunswick Election 2024

• New Brunswick Retail
• Why New Brunswick Retail Matters
• Where the Parties Stand
• Key Retail Issues
• Get Involved
• Contact Us

Source: Stats Canada/ New Brunswick Department of Finance

Why New Brunswick Retail Matters

When your local candidates knock on your door or you meet them at an event, take time to share your experiences and the pride you have for New Brunswick’s retail industry. 

Be sure to also let candidates know that you are part of New Brunswick’s largest private employment sector.  Retail has a significant impact on the success of several other industries such as neighbouring restaurants, as well as jobs in transportation, construction, property management, information technology and financial services.

Here are some ideas that you can share with your candidates while spreading the word about retail:

• More than one in every ten jobs in New Brunswick is in retail.
• 60% of all retailers are small businesses (less than 10 employees).
• Retail in New Brunswick pays $2 billion in total annual compensation.
• Brick-and-mortar retail remains the foundation of healthy main streets and malls.

Every election provides the electorate with the ability to shape their government and help to ensure that future members of the Legislative Assembly understand the role merchants play in New Brunswicker’s lives and the economy.

Where the Parties Stand

Retail Council of Canada sent a questionnaire to the leading political parties addressing the key issues affecting retail in the province. Responses will be listed in order of the current number of seats held.

Retail Survey Questions

If elected…

1. Will your party work with Retail Council of Canada to develop a retail strategy to ensure the industry remains a viable and essential element of the province’s economy?
2. As a specific part of a retail strategy, will your party commit to work together with all levels of government to plan and implement timely solutions to the climate change challenges that could severely impact the retail supply chain in New Brunswick and across the Atlantic region?
3. Will your party support RCC’s initiatives with the Department of Justice and join other key stakeholders at the table to ensure a coordinated response to retail safety and crime?
4. Will your party commit to making no changes to sick leave in the province?
5. Is your party prepared to maintain the current model of determining annual minimum wage adjustments through a formula that is linked to CPI?       
6. Will your party pledge to not raise corporate taxes (small and large businesses) or the provincial portion of the HST during your mandate so as to maintain New Brunswick’s competitive tax position within Atlantic Canada?
7. Will your party commit to following the lead of PEI and lower the small business tax rate to 1%?
8. Will your party commit to lowering the HST during your mandate?
9. Will your party continue the recent government action in taking the lead on issues related to environmental stewardship so as to avoid a municipal patchwork?
10. Will your government take action to harmonize policies related to solid waste regulations across Atlantic Canada?

PC Party Response →

RCC Political Party Policy Survey

Green Party Response →

RCC Political Party Policy Survey

New Brunswick Key Retail Issues

Develop retail sector strategy

Retailers are resilient and despite unprecedented challenges brought on by supply chain issues, inflation and increased competition from e-commerce entities, New Brunswick’s retailers continue to fight to remain a viable and essential element of the province’s economy.

Despite these challenges, the retail sector provides a $17.2 billion boost to the provincial economy, and over 50,000 jobs. New Brunswick retailers are facing significant supply chain challenges, cumulative costs and competitive pressures. In the modern age of retail, there is no certainty of continued success as national, online, and offshore channels threaten ‘brick-and-mortar’ New Brunswick stores.

Recommendation:

Work with Retail Council of Canada to develop a proper retail strategy, commensurate with the size of the retail industry. While other industries have been the focus of sector strategies and incentives, the retail industry has long been overlooked. Inflation challenges continue to create increased pressure on the province’s retail sector.  RCC is calling on the government to be a collaborative partner in finding solutions.

Work with all levels of government to assist with climate change impacts

The increase in dramatic weather events across Atlantic Canada is evidence that governments need action plans to mitigate the impact of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation sector. Most products sold in retail stores across Atlantic Canada arrive via truck and to a lesser extent, via rail.  Many of the trucks and rail cars delivering retail product to Atlantic Canadian stores must travel through parts of New Brunswick, in order to reach their destination.  As New Brunswick’s highways and rail systems are a vital part of the Atlantic Canada supply chain, the New Brunswick government is aware of the climate risks to areas like the Isthmus of Chignecto (connecting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia).  While local, provincial and federal governments have worked together to complete a feasibility study of the climate risks to the Isthmus of Chignecto, debate continues over jurisdiction and the proper path forward.  Nevertheless, each passing year seemingly increases the risk of storm surge flooding the Isthmus of Chignecto and rendering the Trans-Canada Highway and the CN Rail line impassable.  Given that this is the only viable land transportation route between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, lack of government action will have a significant impact on the economies of each Atlantic Province.

Recommendation:

• Given the extensive amount of retail goods which pass daily through the Isthmus of Chignecto, all levels of government need to work together to plan and implement timely solutions to the climate change challenges that could severely impact the retail supply chain.

Retail Safety and Crime

Retail employees and their customers are on the front line of increasing threats to their safety as a result of both organized retail crime as well as prolific and often violent offenders who use a range of dangerous weapons and tactics.  This is in addition to retail employees having to manage complex interactions with those dealing with mental health issues and drug-induced behaviours.  RCC has begun the execution of a coordinated strategy to address these issues in collaboration with police agencies, retailers, community groups and other key stakeholders. 

Recommendation:

• Commit to being an active and contributing partner in collaborative discussions led by RCC and involving police agencies, prosecution, retailers and other important stakeholders.

No changes to sick leave

Although many RCC members have generous paid and unpaid sick leave programs, the reality is that not all businesses are financially able to offer sick leave at the levels that have been suggested during New Brunswick’s consultations on this issue.  New Brunswick employees are currently protected from discriminatory action if they are absent from work due to their own illness or injury or because of the illness or injury of a family member.  New Brunswick should not consider harmonizing its legislation with federal mandates as federally regulated industries (e.g.: Canada’s banks) have virtually nothing in common with a small or mid-sized retailer, challenged by ever-changing government mandates while trying to make payroll. 

Recommendation:

• No changes to sick leave provisions in the province.

Maintain predictable minimum wage

New Brunswick has established a predictable model for calculating annual minimum wage adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. The approach helps ensure politics are removed from the process, and that minimum wage increases are balanced fairly between the interests of employees and employers. New Brunswick’s model also mandates a review, every two years to ensure that the province’s wage remains competitive within the country.  Dramatic and rapid increases in the base wage can harm opportunities for those with the least experience, especially youth.

Recommendation:

• Maintain the current CPI linked approach to minimum wage adjustments so as to ensure a transparent, predictable formula and adequate lead time for budget planning.

Maintain the province’s competitive tax position

New Brunswick’s corporate tax rates (14% for large businesses and 2.5% for small businesses) are generally competitive within Atlantic Canada.  The province’s Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is equal to that in the other Atlantic provinces. These tax decisions help entice businesses to the province. 

Recommendation:

• Commit to not raising corporate tax rate or the provincial portion of the HST during your mandate.

Lower the small business tax rate

Despite New Brunswick’s generally competitive tax rates within the Atlantic region, the province of Prince Edward Island has taken steps in recent years to lower its small business tax rate to 1%.  New Brunswick’s small retailers struggle overall with the costs of doing business in this province while trying to compete with retailers all over the world.   

Recommendation:

• Help small businesses in New Brunswick by taking steps to lower the small business tax rate to 1%. 

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Lower the HST during your mandate

The New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party has promised that if re-elected, it would lower the provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) by two percent.  This would take place over a two-year period and would lower New Brunswick’s HST to 13%.

Recommendation:

• Commit to lowering the HST to 13% so as to incentivize shoppers to spend more money at retail stores throughout New Brunswick.

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Provide provincial leadership on issues related to environmental stewardship

During the 2010s, the provincial government did not always provide leadership in environmental stewardship. When questions were raised regarding single use plastic bags, the provincial government’s refusal to provide direction led to a confusing patchwork of local initiatives from municipal governments and solid waste commissions. In setting up the province’s electronics stewardship program, the government ignored the suggestions from industry and implemented a program that is not harmonized with best practices in the rest of Canada.  The electronics stewardship program served as the template for the stewardship programs that followed leading to New Brunswick implementing a number of environmental stewardship programs that are not harmonized with best practices across Canada.  Such actions have needlessly created public confusion, administrative red tape and increased costs for businesses in the province. 

Recommendation:

• The government should provide leadership and take action to harmonize its policies related to solid waste regulations and stewardship programs across Atlantic Canada.

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Harmonize Environmental Stewardship Programs

Given the small size of each Atlantic Province, it is imperative for each provincial government within the Atlantic Region to work together and harmonize initiatives with proven best practices from across Atlantic Canada.  It is particularly imperative for such harmonization to occur with policies related to solid waste regulations.  A regionally harmonized approach avoids public confusion, reduces red tape and makes it easier for businesses to meet environmental mandates throughout the Atlantic region without creating needless administrative challenges.

Recommendation:

• As New Brunswick continues to develop policies related to solid waste regulations and stewardship programs, it should ensure that these policies are harmonized with existing best practices within neighbouring Atlantic Provinces.  At the least, New Brunswick should ensure that its actions in this regard are harmonized with existing best practices from across the country.

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Get Involved

Use these tools to contact your local candidates and make your voice heard.

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Contributing to political parties – what you need to know

Contributing to a campaign can be an effective way to build relationships with candidates in your riding.
Make sure that you understand the rules before lending your support to a provincial political party and its campaign.  Here is a quick summary:

Who can contribute?

Only individuals can make contributions. There are no residency requirements for individuals wishing to make a contribution.

What is the contribution limit?

The maximum contribution by any individual is $3000 total and includes both monetary and non-monetary contributions as well as financing (e.g. loan guarantees, line of credit). The contribution limit covers the pre-campaign period as well as during the campaign. 

How can a contribution be made?

The contribution is made to either a registered political party or the party’s electoral district association or a registered independent candidate.

Who can receive contributions?

Contributions must be made through the Official Representative of the political party, the Official Representative of the electoral district association or the registered independent candidate. The Official Representative for the political party is ultimately responsible for keeping a complete record of each contribution (e.g. name of the recipient) and for issuing tax receipts.

What are the restrictions?

An Official Representative cannot accept more than $100 in cash from any contributor in a calendar year. 

Individuals cannot contribute more than $3000 (see above) and donations are prohibited from organizations (corporations, partnerships, trade unions) or anonymous donors. An individual is exempt from reporting up to $100 in donations in kind in a calendar year, but the Official Representative must track all donations in kind contributions to ensure an individual does not exceed their limit.

Sections 1(1)-50(6) of the Political Process Financing Act provide additional information regarding monetary and non-monetary contributions to political campaigns. View more information.

Sections 2.8.3-2.8.7 and Sections 3.1.2-3.1.2.4 of the Provincial Political Financing Manual also provide additional information. View more information.

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