Premier Holt’s Response on Chamber’s August 29 Call to Action

September 16, 2025

Shannon Merrifield

Chief Executive Officer

Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce

Shannon,

Thank you for sharing your concerns about community safety and the ways your members are affected. I want to commend the efforts and work your organization and the City of Saint John have initiated to enhance the safety and security of citizens and businesses in the region. The safety and security of all New Brunswick citizens is of the utmost importance for the Government of New Brunswick. Each level of government plays a vital role in addressing crime and the underlying social issues that threaten our communities.

We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Ministerial Task Force on Homelessness, a cross-departmental body dedicated to providing coordinated leadership and action on homelessness in New Brunswick. This task force will bring together the Ministers and Deputy Ministers from Social Development, Health, Housing, Justice and Public Safety, Mental Health and Addictions, and Local government.

The task force is authorized to:

• Set priorities and coordinate cross-departmental actions related to homelessness.

• Review, validate, and approve the provincial homelessness strategy.

• Recommend policy, program, and funding initiatives for government approval.

• Engage with stakeholders, as appropriate, to support effective implementation.

• Act as a decision-making body where appropriate, to accelerate processes and ensure timely action.

This new task force will play a pivotal role in guiding efforts to address homelessness across the province, ensuring that strategies are coordinated, responsive, and impactful. By leveraging its authority, the task force will help streamline decision-making and accelerate the implementation of initiatives that improve the lives of New Brunswickers experiencing homelessness and off communities across the province. We look forward to future collaboration with The Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce and the City of Saint John as we launch this coordinated effort to reduce homelessness and its impacts in New Brunswick.

With gratitude,

Susan Holt

Premier of New Brunswick