The Invitation, provincial parks, arts and culture spending highlight department’s record budget

New Brunswick’s tourism, heritage, arts, sport and cultural sectors bring us all together and represent significant opportunities for sustained economic growth. The strategic investments we are making reflect the importance we place on these sectors while maintaining our approach of managing the province’s finances sensibly and responsibly.

Continued investments in the government’s tourism strategy and provincial parks were among those announced by Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace while presenting her department’s 2023-24 main estimates in the legislative assembly.

The department’s $75.1 million budget represents a 9.3 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year.

Highlights of the main estimates include:

-$2 million to Tourism’s #exploreNB programming and activities as part of The Invitation, the department’s strategic vision;

-$14.2 million to support professional artists and cultural industries;

-a $2 million increase in funding for provincial parks;

-$250,000 to support the development of athletes, coaches and officials as New Brunswick prepares to host the 2029 Canada Summer Games;

-$500,000 to support active communities, accessible places and spaces, and recreation leadership.

“The theme of this year’s provincial budget is growth and opportunity, and the investments made by our department will make a significant contribution toward those efforts – benefitting residents and visitors alike,” said Scott-Wallace.