new brunswick minister of tourism

Hon. TAMMY SCOTT-WALLACE

Mla for sussex-fundy-st. martins minister of tourism, heritage and culture.

"Minister Scott-Wallace covered politics at all levels and spent her career listening to the stories of people in Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins and across the province about the issues that matter most to them. Those many conversations with people and the challenges and successes they face inspired her to run to represent her riding in the legislature and work to help solve the existing roadblocks."

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New Brunswick announces five-year tourism strategy to boost industry

New Brunswick has unveiled an ambitious five-year tourism strategy which aims to make the province the top vacation destination for visitors in Atlantic Canada, as the hard-hit sector begins pandemic recovery.

The new vision is called The Invitation , which the province’s minister of Tourism, Heritage & Culture says is about letting people know they’re invited to New Brunswick. It calls on New Brunswickers to share their favourite destinations in the province.

"With this five-year strategic vision we want to make people see, hear and feel like New Brunswick is their place in the world. The Invitation showcases our province as the best place to visit, live, and build businesses," says Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace.

"We have missed our visitors and the people who once called New Brunswick home. We cannot wait to see them again."

The strategy includes goals to boost overnight visits by 33 per cent compared to 2021, or, from 1.09 million to 1.45 million, and boost online travellers' perceptions of the province by 21 per cent.

This year, the focus will be attracting visitors from Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Eastern U.S., and ex-pats living in other provinces.

Next year, the focus will broaden to inviting the world in, focusing on the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

As well, the province says the tourism strategy includes marketing campaigns which are tailored to different audiences and seasons.

The new strategy comes about three weeks before the first cruise ship of the season – and since the start of the pandemic – sails into Saint John.

Danielle Timmins of Aquila Tours says all hands are on deck to prepare for the arrival.

"We’re seeing that the ships are getting really good fill rates, people are excited to be on board, everything is really safe on board, they’ve taken a lot of extra precautions,” says Timmins, “so people are really excited to cruise and be able to come to Canada."

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Members of the Executive Council

Higgs, Blaine

• Progressive Conservative Party
• President of the Executive Council
• Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs

Ames, Richard

• Carleton - York
• Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

Austin, Kris

• Fredericton - Grand Lake
• Minister of Public Safety

Bockus, Kathy

• Saint Croix
• Minister responsible for Seniors

Fitch, Bruce

• Minister of Health

Flemming, Hugh J.A. (Ted)

• Attorney General
• Minister of Justice

Green, Jill

• Fredericton North
• Minister of Social Development
• Minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation
• Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation

Hogan, Bill

• Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

Holland, Mike

• Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development
• Minister of Indigenous Affairs

Johnson, Margaret

• Carleton - Victoria
• Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries

Savoie, Glen

• Saint John East
• Minister of Local Government
• Minister of Environment and Climate Change
• Minister responsible for La Francophonie
• Government House Leader

Savoie, Réjean

• Miramichi Bay-Neguac
• Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation

Scott-Wallace, Tammy

• Sussex - Fundy - St. Martins
• Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture

Steeves, Ernie

• Moncton Northwest
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Turner, Greg

• Moncton South
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• Moncton Southwest
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N.B. ‘Incredibly Close’ To Pre-Pandemic Tourism Numbers: Minister

New Brunswick Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace speaks during the grand opening of the new Vaughan Creek Covered Bridge in St. martins on Sept. 1, 2022. Image: Brad Perry

New Brunswick’s tourism minister says we have seen a boost in visitors to the province this summer.

Tammy Scott-Wallace said we have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, but we are “incredibly close.”

“Tourism has absolutely come alive in the summer,” Wallace told our newsroom in a recent interview.

“People were waiting for it, they were excited to get back out and to enjoy everything that New Brunswick has to offer.”

Wallace said her department expects to see an “incredibly strong” fall tourism season, particularly with travellers from Ontario and Quebec.

“Certainly within a year or two, we’re going to see our tourism back and exceeding the number that we have prior to the pandemic,” she said.

In April, the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture released a five-year tourism plan dubbed The Invitation .

The strategy includes a number of metrics, such as increasing overnight visits by 33 per cent to 1.45 million, and boosting the province’s Tourism Sentiment Score — or online traveller’s perceptions of our province and its tourism offerings — by 21 per cent, from 16.5 to 20.

In addition, the province hopes the plan will help contribute to its goals of growing the province’s labour force to 405,300 by the end of 2024, achieving net interprovincial migration levels of 1,000 each year, and welcoming 7,500 newcomers annually by 2024.

Regional news director for Acadia Broadcasting's New Brunswick radio stations. A self-described weather geek who wakes up way before the sun to keep you informed.

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New Brunswick’s tourism minister, deputy expense $22,500 for Euro trip

Tammy Scott-Wallace arrives at the New Brunswick Legislative Building, in Fredericton, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Ron Ward/The Canadian Press

New Brunswick’s tourism minister has remained defiant in the face of criticism from opposition members who have questioned the benefits of a week-long trip to Europe that cost the province more than $22,500.

Tammy Scott-Wallace faced almost two days of questioning this week in the legislature about her time overseas.

“My conscience is clear when it comes to my expenses around these trips,” she said during a session of the legislature committee on budget estimates.

Scott-Wallace and her deputy, Yennah Hurley, along with two other staff members, travelled to the United Kingdom and France from Sept. 8 to 15. They visited Stonehenge, the British Museum, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Versailles, among other sites.

The Progressive Conservative minister billed the government $10,199 for the trip, and her deputy submitted receipts worth $12,328.

Hurley’s receipts show $3,230 for her stay at the Trafalgar St. James hotel in London, and $2,286 for her accommodations at Hotel Lumen in Paris. The luxury hotel London charges more than $1,000 per night; Hotel Lumen, boasting a location in the “heart of Paris,” costs more than $600 per night.

She also billed $560 for Eurostar train tickets, $24 for a tour of the British Museum and $92 for a ride on the London Eye – a ferris wheel that overlooks the River Thames.

Scott-Wallace’s trips were described on the expense report as “Tourism Mission – Europe.”

Isabelle Theriault, the Liberals’ tourism critic, called the trip “a vacation with a few meetings here and there to justify it.”

“What did it give the taxpayers of New Brunswick, that you went there for eight days?” she asked.

“It’s really not clear what you did, except visit some places. Like, you have to face the music.”

Scott-Wallace said the province secured contracts during her time in the United Kingdom and France, but the government didn’t immediately respond to questions about the nature and value of those contracts.

“That’s incredibly important,” the minister said. “It’s a good day’s work and it’s a good seven days’ work for me. I’ll tell you that.”

The tours of Windsor Castle and the Palace of Versailles, she said, allowed her to learn “best practices” about “built heritage.”

New Brunswick, she said, has similar sites to the U.K. and France but on a smaller scale. For instance, while on a tour of the British Museum, she learned the institution offers abbreviated 45-minute tours to cruise ship passengers. The same kind of shortened tours, she said, could be added to the offering at the New Brunswick Museum, which is under renovation.

Scott-Wallace told the legislature that her trip to Europe in September led to a 23 per cent year-over-year increase in 2023 in the number of tourists to the province from the United Kingdom and a 12 per cent increase in tourists from France. She did not give details, however, about why she thought her visits sparked a boost in the popularity of New Brunswick among the English and French.

In an appearance before the budget estimates committee on Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs said the government would re-evaluate policies surrounding such overseas visits.

Scott-Wallace and Hurley’s Europe trip wasn’t approved in advance because the minister said such expenses are “budgeted for.”

Rene Legacy, Liberal critic for the Department of Finance and Treasury, questioned Higgs about the trip and the expenses.

In response, the premier said that just because such expenses were incurred in the past, doesn’t mean they should be repeated.

“I’m asking questions too,” Higgs said. “I want to understand what our policies are because sometimes policies can be better defined so that we all ensure that taxpayers’ money is used to the most efficient manner. We’re going to ask those questions.”

The ministers’ travel expenses weren’t the only bills that attracted the ire of the opposition.

Hurley billed the province $77,710 last year, including $15,000 for a real estate commission, $3,550.67 for movers and $770.50 in legal fees. She also charged the government 68 cents for travelling on the Fundy Trail, and 83 cents on Ministers Island near the town of St. Andrews.

Green Leader David Coon questioned the Realtor and moving expenses. “The taxpayers of this province should not be paying the Realtor costs of public servants when they sell their homes,” he said.

Scott-Wallace defended her deputy’s moving expenses, saying government employees who are transferred are allowed to recover moving costs.

“This is a policy that has been accepted and used for years with governments of both colours,” she said about the Tories and Liberals.

Higgs, later in the day, clarified that such expenses are reserved for senior government employees, adding that the practice would be reviewed.

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Tourism deputy rings up N.B. government's largest 2023 expense account

L uxury-hotel stays during an unpublicized trip to London and Paris and a personal move from Quispamsis to Fredericton helped deputy tourism minister Yennah Hurley, the former adviser to Premier Blaine Higgs, amass $77,710 in expenses in 2023.   

It's the largest amount claimed by a senior official in the New Brunswick government for the year, including the premier and cabinet ministers, according to online departmental expense reports.

New Brunswick releases information on expenses paid to ministers and senior government officials quarterly for travel, living expenses, car allowances, accommodations and other costs.  

It calls it an "effort to improve transparency, accountability and enhance the proactive disclosure of information."

In 2023, the largest amount claimed by an elected official for the calendar year was $52,522 by Higgs. That included $13,389 spent on a trip to Europe last May highlighted by Higgs's speech at the World Hydrogen Summit in the Netherlands.

Charges by the premier, however, were eclipsed by Hurley, whose expense claims ran nearly 50 per cent higher.

Hurley is a former small adventure business operator and travel blogger who has been New Brunswick's deputy minister of tourism since 2020.

She was hired in 2019 on a two-year consulting contract by Higgs to work in the Tourism Department and report directly to him on changes that might be made.

One change that came quickly was the firing of the previous deputy minister, Francoise Roy, a month after Hurley began work. Ten months later, Hurley had Roy's old job 

"I am proud that she is working with the people in the department," Higgs said in the legislature in 2019 in defending Hurley's initial hiring.

"I am proud that she is working with the minister because we are going to get things done by thinking differently. I am proud that she is part of the team."

In 2023, reports show, Hurley took several trips on government business both inside and outside Canada.

Expense reports contain little information on the purpose of trips, and Hurley was not made available for an interview.  However, her reports show $21,488 was spent on hotels in multiple locations, including Banff, Quebec City and South Carolina.

According to information provided by the province, the most expensive trip, an eight-day visit to Europe last September was an effort to boost international tourism interest in New Brunswick.

It was also said to be for gathering information on tourism sites of significance that are recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"The purpose of the mission was to discuss opportunities with international tour operators for visits to New Brunswick," Bruce Macfarlane, New Brunswick's senior director for media relations, wrote in response to a request for information about the trip.

"The mission also included site visits and meetings with UNESCO properties and museums with four nights in London and a four-night stay in Paris."

Four Tourism Department representatives went to Europe, according to Macfarlane, including Hurley and the minister, Tammy Scott-Wallace.

The group stayed at the Trafalgar St. James, a London hotel, before eventually moving to Hotel Lumen in Paris.

According to prices advertised online and expense reports submitted by both Scott-Wallace and Hurley, the hotels charge about $800 and $600 per night, respectively.

Hurley's expenses also included receipts for visits to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, an unspecified British museum, the London Eye, and the Palace of Versailles.  

There appeared to be no specific charges for business meetings during the eight days by either the minister or deputy minister. Hurley's expenses eventually totalled $12,328 with Scott-Wallace charging $10,199.

Isabelle Theriault, the deputy Liberal leader and opposition tourism critic, said she is surprised to hear about the trip.  

By coincidence last September, the Tourism Department was in front of the legislature's public accounts committee two weeks after Hurley returned from Paris, and Theriault questioned her about departmental efforts being made to promote New Brunswick in Europe.   

The trip was never mentioned.

"If I had known I would have asked questions about it," said Theriault.

"If they just came back from those regions in Europe why didn't they tell me, 'We went there to work on how to attract people from those regions.' But they chose not to tell."

Hurley's largest expense in 2023 was not travel-related. After her return from Europe, she sold her house in Quispamsis and moved to Fredericton, ending four years of commuting.

That move cost taxpayers a further $19,321.17 in relocation costs.  

Those included $15,000 for the real estate commission paid on the house Hurley sold, $3,550.67 for movers and $770.50 in legal fees.

According to the New Brunswick government's relocation policy, moving expenses for an existing employee are allowed at the discretion of a departmental deputy minister "if" the employee "is transferred."

Hurley was not transferred to a new job, and she did not take a loss on the sale of her home, which sometimes adds to relocation costs.

Real estate records show the house sold last October for $405,000, well above the listed asking price of $324,900.

Nevertheless, Macfarlane said it was determined Hurley did in fact qualify to have moving expenses covered and emphasized she did not approve her own claim. He declined to say who did.

"As outlined in the relocation policy, in no case can the Deputy Head authorize their own relocation expenses," wrote Macfarlane.

"Another designate approved the relocation expenses within the policy directive. Although we cannot talk about specific cases, the relocation expenses fell within the policy."

Tourism numbers up at many provincial destinations, government says

Tourism in new brunswick saw a 10 per cent increase in visitors, according to minister.

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The New Brunswick's tourism industry saw a 10 per cent increase in visitors between September and June, despite the 26 per cent drop at Parlee Beach, according to a government release.

Hopewell Rocks saw the most tourists this summer, with 282,202 people visiting the historic landmark, up 17 per cent from last year.

Second highest was the Kings Landing Historical Settlement with 32,949, an increase of 19 per cent since last year.

The third highest increase in visitors was Kingsbrae Gardens, followed by the New Brunswick Botanical Garden, and the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, Village Historique Acadian, New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Centre, and the New Brunswick Museum.

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"Our government is very pleased with this years tourism sector," said John Ames, the Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture at a press conference Tuesday.

"We're on a pretty darn good trend right now." 

The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture did not clarify what constitutes a tourist visit. It is also unclear how long tourists stayed, and how much money they spent visiting the province.

Some tourist attractions down

The government also left out the tourist attractions that saw decreases. 

Several tourist attractions saw a drop in their numbers, including the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, which was under construction during the summer, and where visitor numbers dropped two per cent. The Fundy Trail also dropped two per cent and Le Pays de la Sagouine dropped a total of seven per cent.

Parlee Beach, which saw a 26 per cent decrease, had water quality issues throughout the summer.

In September, the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture released numbers on the beach.

At the time, the number of vehicle entrance permits sold decreased from 23,569 to 17,110.

Also, the number of people staying at Parlee's campground between June and August decreased from 11,042 in 2016 to 10,649 in 2017.

At the time, out of 106 swimming days, nine days had elevated bacterial levels.

Ames said Parlee Beach has always been a tourism jewel for the province and water quality issues shouldn't distract from that.

"All departments in our government are working together to make sure that we can do the best we can, ensuring due diligence," said Ames. "I'm very confident as we steer toward the future we will embark on a safer place for people to recreate."

Ames did not elaborate on what those plans were.

Ronald Drisdelle, president and CEO of the Tourist Industry Association of New Brunswick, said despite the lower numbers at the beach, the restaurants, businesses and campgrounds did well in the Shediac area.

He said New Brunswick is a unique experience for tourists who come here from Quebec, the U.S. and Europe. They find the rich culture here to be special. He said especially Acadian and Indigenous culture. 

"We're working all together, so New Brunswick puts the best foot forward," said Drisdelle.

With files from Joe McDonald

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Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of Nova Scotia

From: Department of Justice Canada

News release

The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016.

April 22, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Shannon B. Mason , Managing Lawyer of the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Conflict Office in Sydney, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Sydney. Justice Mason replaces Justice K.C. Haley (Sydney), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective February 12, 2023.

“I wish Justice Mason every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve the people of Nova Scotia well as a member of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.”

— The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Justice Shannon B. Mason obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, double major in Political Science and English, from Cape Breton University in 2000. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2003 from the University of New Brunswick. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2004.

Justice Mason started her legal career in private practice with H.F. MacIntyre & Associates. In 2005, she accepted a position with Nova Scotia Legal Aid (NSLA), practicing family law and criminal law. She became the Managing Lawyer of the NSLA Conflict Office in 2014 and was awarded the designation of senior staff counsel in 2022. She has practiced child protection law almost exclusively since 2014. She has served as Chair of NSLA’s Children and Family Services Act Best Practices Committee. She has appeared in all levels of court in Nova Scotia.

Justice Mason has been an active member of the legal community. At the time of her appointment, she was serving her second term on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) Council. She also sat on the NSBS Complaints Investigation Committee, the Professional Standards (Family Law) Committee, and the Distinguished Service Award Committee. She was also an active member of the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society, having served as a past President. She also sat on the Supreme Court Family Division Liaison Committee, the Court Administration Collaboration Committee, and the Library Committee.

Justice Mason has been a long-standing board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton.

Quick facts

The Government of Canada has appointed more than 715 judges since November 2015. This includes 92 appointments since the Honourable Arif Virani became Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on July 26, 2023. These exceptional jurists represent the diversity that strengthens Canada. Of these judges, more than half are women, and appointments reflect an increased representation of racialized persons, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and those who self-identify as having a disability.

To support the needs of the courts and improve access to justice for all Canadians, the Government of Canada is committed to increasing the capacity of superior courts. Budget 2022 provides for 22 new judicial positions, along with two associate judges at the Tax Court of Canada. Along with the 13 positions created under Budget 2021, this makes a total of 37 newly created superior court positions. Since Budget 2017, the government has funded 116 new judicial positions.

Changes to the Questionnaire for Federal Judicial Appointments were announced in September 2022. The questionnaire continues to provide for a robust and thorough assessment of candidates but has been streamlined and updated to incorporate, among other things, more respectful and inclusive language for individuals to self-identify diversity characteristics. 

Federal judicial appointments are made by the Governor General, acting on the advice of the federal Cabinet and recommendations from the Minister of Justice.

The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territory represented.

Significant reforms to the role and structure of the Judicial Advisory Committees, aimed at enhancing the independence and transparency of the process, were announced on October 20, 2016 . 

The Government of Canada is committed to promoting a justice system in which sexual assault matters are decided fairly, without the influence of myths and stereotypes, and in which survivors are treated with dignity and compassion. Changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code that came into force on May 6, 2021, mean that in order to be eligible for appointment to a provincial superior court, candidates must agree to participate in continuing education on matters related to sexual assault law and social context, which includes systemic racism and systemic discrimination. The new legislation enhances the transparency of decisions by amending the Criminal Code to require that judges provide written reasons, or enter them into the record, when deciding sexual assault matters.

For more information, media may contact:

Chantalle Aubertin Deputy Director, Communications Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General 613-992-6568 [email protected]

Media Relations Department of Justice Canada 613-957-4207 [email protected]

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