The number of New Brunswick jobs that could be impacted by U.S. tariffs continues to fluctuate.
Provincial officials initially estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 people could lose their jobs.
That later jumped to as many as 11,000 as the impacts of potential across-the-board tariffs became clearer.
But with the Trump administration going with a more focused group of tariffs, the new estimates are between 2,100 and 6,600 jobs.
“That’s 2,100 jobs in 2025, growing to 6,600 jobs by 2029, if these tariffs were to stay in place over those four years,” Premier Susan Holt said in her weekly update on Thursday.
Holt also noted that the province would also see a reduction in GDP growth of 0.6 percentage points.
“That’s not enough to push New Brunswick into the technical definition of a recession, but that does represent about $3.5 billion worth of GDP out of our economy,” she added.
While Canada has been spared from widespread tariffs, several sectors are being impacted, including steel, aluminum, automobile and softwood lumber.
Holt said her government’s support program remains in place for any businesses or municipalities that are seeing impacts from tariffs.
To date, Opportunities NB has had more than 100 conversations with entrepreneurs around the province about support, she added.
Campobello Island exemption welcomed
Earlier this week, Campobello Island residents were granted a special exemption from Canada’s countertariffs on U.S. consumer and household products.
“This special exemption is in recognition of the island’s unique situation, which is only accessible by road via the United States year-round,” federal officials said in a news release on Tuesday.
Those who live on Campobello Island must travel through Lubec, Maine, when the ferry does not run in the winter.
There is no gas station or medical services on the island, and only a small market for household products.
“We were really pleased that Prime Minister [Mark] Carney and [Intergovernmental Affairs] Minister [Dominic] LeBlanc and others were able to push that exemption through,” said Holt.
“We continue to do work to see if we can get the ferry in the water sooner to also help through these challenging times.”
The ferry between Campobello Island and Deer Island typically only operates from June through September each year.
Holt said her government has been engaging with Mayor Harvey Matthews and the committee pushing for a year-round ferry service to the island.
“I’ve directed the folks at [the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure] to take that work seriously and to look at all of the options of how we can make sure that these New Brunswickers have access to their province on a reliable and regular basis permanently for the long term,” said the premier, adding it is something that needs to be done in partnership with the federal government.
