Saint John Region Chamber Letter of Support – Spruce Lake Project

February 6, 2026

The Spruce Lake project represents a significant private-sector investment in New Brunswick’s future economy. With an estimated $2 billion investment and the development of advanced digital and AI-enabled infrastructure, the project reflects growing confidence in Saint John as a destination for large-scale, future-oriented investment. It signals an important evolution in the type and scale of economic activity being considered for our region.

The Chamber supports investments that attract private capital, strengthen long-term competitiveness, and position Saint John to participate meaningfully in emerging industries. From that perspective, the Spruce Lake project presents a compelling opportunity. Our support is grounded in clear principles that reflect both business advocacy and confidence in the established planning, regulatory, and assessment frameworks that govern projects of this scale. To this extent the city has deliberately laid a strategic foundation for this project and hopefully others in the future. These investments include industrial road and water infrastructure, proximity to major power assets, an EIA underway, ongoing Indigenous engagement and $200 million in pre-existing public and private investments. This framework is significant in creating the opportunities for responsible and investment-led economic development.

Energy and infrastructure considerations are an important part of enabling future growth. Large, energy-intensive investments underscore the need for coordinated long-term planning around power supply, infrastructure readiness, and competitiveness. The Chamber supports continued collaboration between proponents, utilities, and governments to ensure that growth is managed in a way that is fair, equitable, and supportive of existing businesses and residents. These conversations are not unique to this project, but part of a broader dialogue required to support growth and innovation across the province.

Public infrastructure impacts should be clearly understood and responsibly managed. The Chamber supports the municipal and provincial processes to assess infrastructure needs and ensure that investments are aligned with long-term community benefit and sound fiscal stewardship.

Environmental stewardship and public trust are also essential to sustainable economic development. We recognize the ecological importance of wetlands, peatlands, and forest systems, and we support a rigorous, transparent environmental assessment process to evaluate impacts and mitigation measures. Strong regulatory oversight provides decision-makers and the public with confidence that development can proceed responsibly, with protection of critical environmental functions over the long term.

Local benefits must be tangible and broadly shared. In addition to permanent employment, projects of this scale create meaningful opportunities for local suppliers, professional services, construction trades, workforce development, and long-term growth of the municipal and provincial tax base. These impacts matter directly to Chamber members and to the overall economic health of the region and were highlighted through the proponent’s engagement with Council and the public.

The Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce exists to champion a strong, inclusive, and competitive economy. We support this project and view it as investment-led growth that aligns innovation with responsibility and helps position Saint John for long-term prosperity.

 

Shannon Merrifield

Chief Executive Officer Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce