Investments in public safety

FREDERICTON (GNB) - The 2025-26 budget for the Department of Justice and Public Safety was tabled at the legislative assembly.

The $403.2-million budget contains $316 million for public safety, including new investments in improved forensics capability, disaster preparedness and supports to address sexual violence.

"When I speak to New Brunswickers, I hear of their concerns of public safety in their communities," said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin. "This budget is creating a long-needed sexual violence unit within the RCMP that will also specialize on human trafficking."

The budget includes:

• $2.8 million for the RCMP sexual violence unit.

• $647,000 to improve the province's capacity for firearms forensics. This is meant to reduce pre-trial delays in criminal cases involving a firearm.

• $880,000 to improve disaster preparedness. The investments will create around-the-clock monitoring and response capacity for the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) and expand training to local emergency planners and managers.

"Our government committed to reviewing and updating our emergency preparedness plan for dealing with the increasing number of extreme climate change-related weather events," said Gauvin. "Investing in NBEMO and training will help us towards that commitment."