Government of New Brunswick

The story of New Brunswick's governance is a journey woven through centuries of cultural exchange, conflict, and nation-building. Long before European arrival, the lands were home to the Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) peoples. The early 1600s saw French explorers, including Samuel de Champlain, arrive and establish settlements, calling the broader Maritime region Acadia. For over a century, this territory was a focal point of imperial rivalry between France and Britain. In 1713, the region was ceded to the British, a transition that culminated in the tragic Great Upheaval of 1755, when thousands of Acadians were forcibly exiled from their homes. Many who escaped found refuge along the coastlines, where their descendants continue to foster a vibrant Acadian culture today, particularly on the Acadian Peninsula.

A pivotal chapter began in 1783 with the arrival of thousands of Loyalists, refugees who remained loyal to the British Crown following the American Revolution. Seeking a new home, they settled along the Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy. Their dissatisfaction with being governed from distant Halifax led to a significant political shift. In 1784, the British government partitioned the territory from Nova Scotia, officially creating the colony of New Brunswick, a name chosen to honor the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The following year, Saint John was incorporated, becoming Canada's first city. The journey toward self-governance continued, and on July 1, 1867, New Brunswick took a monumental step, joining with Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia as one of the four founding provinces of the Dominion of Canada. In 1969, recognizing its unique dual-heritage, New Brunswick was officially declared a bilingual province, the only one in Canada, cementing its commitment to both English and French cultures. Today, the Government of New Brunswick operates within a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, continuing to evolve as it serves a diverse and multicultural population.