N.B. government introduces legislation to return elected members to health boards by 2030

New Brunswick is bringing back elected members to its health boards by 2030.

The New Brunswick government is introducing legislation that will allow elected members to join the province’s regional health authorities.

The government says the boards were previously comprised of both appointed and elected members, but those boards were eliminated in 2022 and replaced by appointed boards in 2023.

“A Court of King’s Bench judge recently ruled that the 2022 dissolution of the boards failed to consider Charter rights and values,” a news release from the government reads.

Government officials will consult with regional health authorities with the goal of reintroducing elected representation on the boards for the 2030 election cycle.

“Reintroducing elected representation on health authority boards is important, but it is only one part of a much broader picture,” said Justice Minister and Attorney General Robert McKee in the release. “We must ensure future decision-making in health-care governance is guided by a clear legal framework that respects constitutional principles, linguistic rights and the long-term stability of the system.”

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