New Brunswickers are about to find out exactly how Premier Susan Holt’s Liberal government plans to tackle the province’s worsening finances.

Finance Minister René Legacy is expected to table the new provincial budget in Fredericton today.

Last month, he revealed the 2025-26 fiscal year was headed toward a record $1.3-billion deficit.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you’ll never miss the day’s top stories.

The government has warned that nearly every service and program is potentially facing cuts this year, including in health care.

The finance department has said reducing the size of the civil service, closing small schools and selling off provincial buildings and properties are all being considered.

The government is considering tolls on out-of-province vehicles and increases to service fees to boost revenues, but Legacy has said he’s not seriously considering tax hikes.

Don Monahan has officially entered the race for leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives.

The MLA for Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills launched his leadership bid Saturday in Fredericton.

The first-term MLA is now the second confirmed candidate in the race for Tory leader.

Get daily National news

Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Daniel Allain announced his candidacy in October.

Allain had served as MLA for Moncton East from 2020 to 2024, and was part of former premier Blaine Higgs’s cabinet in 2023 as minister of local government.

Higgs stepped down as party leader after the 2024 election, and was replaced by Glen Savoie as interim leader.

PC members will vote on their new leader at the party’s convention in October.