If you follow provincial politics, you know tourism spending often sparks debate. A recent public accounts committee meeting turned into a political battleground as New Brunswick Liberals and Progressive Conservatives revived controversies over how the province spends your tax dollars.

According to a report by CBC News, politicians used the Friday session to scrutinize everything from closed heritage sites to expensive European trips.

Conservatives Question Heritage Site Closures

Progressive Conservative MLA Rob Weir focused on funding cuts to several provincial tourism sites. These cuts affect locations like Cape Enrage in Albert County, Bonar Law Provincial Heritage Place in Rexton, Doak House Provincial Heritage Place in Doaktown and North Lake Provincial Park in Lakeland Ridges.

Weir pressed Deputy Minister of Tourism Hélène Bouchard on the timeline of these decisions. Bouchard confirmed the budget process for 2024 to 2025 did not include plans to divest these properties.

“I assume that means it was all decided in 2026,” Weir said. “So that is interesting, very interesting.”

Weir stated he wanted to ensure the department followed proper procedures, noting he saw oddities in how the cuts surfaced.

Liberals Target Expensive European Trip

The Liberals brought their own grievances to the table. Liberal MLA Natacha Vautour questioned the value of a $42,000 trip to the United Kingdom and France taken by former PC tourism minister Tammy Scott Wallace and her staff in 2023.

The department originally billed the trip as an opportunity to meet European tour operators. Bouchard revealed tourism spending by French visitors remained flat at $20 million between 2024 and 2025. Spending by UK tourists increased from $25 million to $29 million.

Vautour questioned if a $4 million increase justified the $42,000 expense. She also criticized the rationale that visiting the Palace of Versailles provided ideas for the New Brunswick Museum.

“So we are comparing the New Brunswick Museum to the Palace of Versailles,” Vautour said. “OK.”

Funding Changes Hit Local Festivals

Vautour also asked about a $15,000 funding cut to the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta in Sussex. This event takes place in the riding of Scott Wallace.

Bouchard explained the reduction stems from new tracking criteria recommended by Auditor General Paul Martin. The province now requires events to collect visitor postal codes to prove attendees travel more than 75 kilometres. Since the balloon fiesta is a free event without ticket sales, organizers cannot easily collect this data.

Despite the political nature of the committee session, both sides defended their lines of questioning. Vautour insisted her questions were not partisan and supported Weir’s inquiries into the heritage site cuts. Weir described the Liberal questions as challenging to sit through but necessary to hear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Cape Enrage lose its provincial funding?

The provincial government cut funding to Cape Enrage and several other heritage sites in the March 2026 budget. The exact reasons remain a point of political debate, with Conservatives questioning the timeline of the decision.

How much did the 2023 European tourism trip cost?

Former tourism minister Tammy Scott Wallace and her staff spent $42,000 on a trip to the United Kingdom and France to meet with tour operators.

Why did the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta lose funding?

The province introduced new criteria requiring events to track visitor postal codes. The free festival in Sussex cannot easily collect this information, resulting in a reduction of provincial grant money.