Exploring New Brunswick's Surprising Size

New Brunswick, one of Canada's Maritime provinces, has a total area of 72,908 square kilometres (28,150 square miles). It is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to the west. The province has a roughly rectangular shape and is dominated by mountains and hills, with a large interior that is sheltered from oceanic effects. Its landscape is characterised by the Appalachian Mountain range, with the highest peak being Mount Carleton at 820 metres (2,690 feet). The magnificent St. John River, often called The Rhine of North America, runs through the province from north to south.

New Brunswick's geography and climate

New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces, with a total area of 72,908 square kilometres (28,150 square miles). The province is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to the west.

The geography of New Brunswick is characterised by its rivers and low-lying hills. The province is dominated by mountains in the north, which are part of the Appalachian Range. The highest peak is Mount Carleton, at 820 metres (2,690 feet). The interior of the province consists mostly of rolling plateau, covered by forests. The eastern region is fairly flat, while the southern terrain is rugged. The Saint John River, often called 'The Rhine of North America', splits the province from north to south. Other notable rivers include the Miramichi, Restigouche, Nepisiguit, St. Croix, and Tobique.

The climate in New Brunswick is a blend of coastal and inland influences. January is generally the coldest month, and July is the warmest. However, the province experiences mild spells in winter and cool weather in summer due to the influxes of moist Atlantic air. Summers are typically warm and comfortable, with average daytime highs between 20 and 22°C along the Bay of Fundy coast. Spring and autumn offer many pleasant but cooler days. The interior highlands record about 1,200 millimetres of rainfall per year, with the heaviest amounts falling during the summer. Winters in the interior are very cold due to higher elevations and the continental air masses. In contrast, coastal locations like St. Andrews and Saint John experience milder winters because of the moderating effects of the sea.

The province's history

The history of New Brunswick can be traced back to the Paleo-Indians, who are believed to have been the first humans to settle in the area around 10,000 years ago. The first documented European exploration of the region was made by Jacques Cartier in 1534, when his party set foot in Miscou and explored the coasts of Chaleur Bay. In 1604, Acadia, the first New France colony, was founded with the creation of Port-Royal. For 150 years afterwards, Acadia changed hands multiple times due to numerous conflicts between France and the United Kingdom. From 1755 to 1764, the British deported Acadians en masse, an event known as the Great Upheaval. This, along with the Treaty of Paris, solidified Acadia as British property. In 1784, following the arrival of many loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, the colony of New Brunswick was officially created, separating it from what is now Nova Scotia. In the early 1800s, New Brunswick prospered and the population grew rapidly. In 1867, New Brunswick decided to join with Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (now Quebec and Ontario) to form Canada.

Demographics and population

New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and the only officially bilingual province (French and English) in the country. The province's population was 775,610 in 2021, with estimates suggesting it surpassed 800,000 in March 2022. New Brunswick is the 11th largest Canadian province by area but only around half of its population lives in urban areas, predominantly Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton. Over 65% of the population reside in the province's 107 municipalities.

The majority of New Brunswickers are English-speaking, with around a third being French-speaking, mostly of Acadian origin. The population also includes First Nations people, such as the Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), and other ethnicities like Irish, Scottish, Asian Canadian, and Danish. The population of French origin grew dramatically after Confederation, increasing from about 16% in 1871 to 34% in 1931.

In 2021, the most commonly reported ethnic origins in New Brunswick were Canadian, Irish and English, with about 5.8% belonging to a visible minority group and 4.4% identifying as Indigenous (including First Nations, Métis and Inuit). The most commonly reported languages in the province in 2021 were English (698,025 or 91.94%), French (317,825 or 41.86%), Spanish (7,580 or 1%), and Arabic (6,090 or 0.8%).

New Brunswick has a relatively even split of French and English populations compared to other provinces, with about 33-34% of the population being bilingual. This unique linguistic situation has resulted in the province having both English and French as official languages in hospitals, healthcare networks, schools, universities, and media.

The population of New Brunswick is ageing, with the number of residents over 65 hitting a record of 171,262 in 2020, while the number of those under 65 has decreased. This demographic shift has raised concerns about the province's economy and the potential lack of workers to fill jobs as baby boomers retire.

The population of New Brunswick has historically been predominantly rural, with urban-rural split evening out in recent decades. In 2021, 63.2% of the population was urban. The three major urban areas of Greater Moncton, Greater Saint John, and Greater Fredericton together are home to over 300,000 people.

New Brunswick has a relatively small immigrant population, with immigrants comprising 5.8% or 44,125 people of the total population in the 2021 census. However, immigration has been proposed as a solution to the province's ageing population, with a target of 7,500 newcomers per year set before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economy and industry

New Brunswick's economy is driven by a diverse range of industries, including services, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Here is an overview of the economy and key industries:

Services:

The service sector is the largest contributor to New Brunswick's economy, accounting for 43% of the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2002. This includes government services and public administration, which make up about half of the service sector. Other services include social assistance, trades, and healthcare, and tourism.

Construction, Manufacturing, and Utilities:

This sector contributed 24% to the provincial GDP in 2002. It includes construction, manufacturing industries, and utilities such as electricity and water. The construction industry's GDP was 2.34 billion Canadian dollars in 2022.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing:

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing have historically been important industries in New Brunswick. About 83% of the province is forested, and these industries accounted for over 80% of exports in the mid-19th century. Today, they contribute 5% to the provincial GDP. Forestry practices have evolved from controlled harvesting to forest cultivation, employing nearly 12,000 people and generating around $437 million in revenue. Agriculture includes crops like potatoes, apples, cranberries, and maple syrup, as well as livestock rearing, with a total value of about a quarter of a billion dollars.

Mining and Quarrying:

While mining was historically unimportant, the sector has grown since the 1950s. In 2015, the GDP from mining and quarrying was $299.5 million. Mines in New Brunswick produce lead, zinc, copper, and potash.

Transportation and Warehousing:

This sector contributes 5% to the provincial GDP. It includes freight transport, with companies like the Irving Group of Companies providing services through railways and trucking. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure maintains the province's highway network, including the Trans-Canada Highway, and ferry services.

Tourism:

Tourism is a significant component of New Brunswick's economy, accounting for about 9% of the labour force directly or indirectly. Popular destinations include natural attractions such as Fundy National Park, Hopewell Rocks, Kouchibouguac National Park, and Roosevelt Campobello International Park.

Other Industries:

Other industries that contribute to New Brunswick's economy include real estate rental (12% of GDP), wholesale and retail (11% of GDP), and finance and insurance.

Government and politics

New Brunswick's government and politics have been dominated by two parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives (now Progressive Conservatives), each of which has held power for lengthy periods. The province has a unicameral legislature, consisting of the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly with 49 seats. The legislature functions according to the Westminster system of government.

The Lieutenant-Governor, appointed to represent the Queen, is at the head of the provincial government, seated in Fredericton. Provincial elections are held every four years on the fourth Monday of September to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The 49 members of the legislative assembly represent individual constituencies. The party with the most elected members forms the provincial government, and its leader becomes the Premier of the province.

Any Canadian citizen aged 18 or over and resident for six months is entitled to vote. The current provincial government is headed by Premier Blaine Higgs of the Progressive Conservative Party, which took office on November 9, 2018.

New Brunswick has 10 appointed seats in the Canadian Senate and elects 10 members of the House of Commons.

The two major political parties in New Brunswick are the New Brunswick Liberal Association and the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick. From time to time, other parties such as the New Democratic Party, the Confederation of Regions Party, the Green Party of New Brunswick, and the People's Alliance of New Brunswick have held seats in the Legislative Assembly.

The registered political parties during the 2020 elections were:

• New Brunswick Liberal Association
• Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
• New Brunswick New Democratic Party
• Green Party of New Brunswick
• People's Alliance of New Brunswick

New Brunswick has a first-past-the-post electoral system, meaning the candidate with the most votes in each electoral district wins. The premier typically appoints members of the Cabinet from among the MLAs belonging to the party in power. Cabinet members are referred to as ministers and oversee specific portfolios, including finance, health, and education.

The dynamics of New Brunswick politics differ from those of other Canadian provinces. The lack of a dominant urban centre means that the government must be responsive to issues affecting all areas of the province. Additionally, the presence of a large francophone minority dictates that consensus politics is necessary, even when there is a majority government.

Since 1960, the province has elected young bilingual leaders, allowing the premiers to be influential players on the federal stage.

Frequently asked questions