The Holt government has reached a deal with Ottawa on compensation for tens of millions of dollars in lost sales tax revenue from the Christmas season in 2024. The Trudeau government’s HST holiday meant it wasn’t collecting the provincial portion of the tax on behalf of five provinces that are part of the tax model, including New Brunswick. Holt and LeBlanc confirmed at a joint news conference on Friday that Ottawa will provide $60 million toward bilingual digital health records in New Brunswick. “The federal government made good on their word and we're pleased to have gotten $60 million returned to the people of New Brunswick,” Holt said. The other $40 million appears in budget estimates tabled in the legislature for the 2026-27 fiscal year that begins April 1.

Source: CBC News March 23, 2026 16:32 UTC