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That’s as there’s a call for more paramedic involvement, but they’re facing shortages too
Published Dec 01, 2025 • Last updated 14 hours ago • 4 minute read
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A new province-wide survey conducted by Abacus Data for the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick shows overwhelming support for giving paramedics a greater role in delivering health care in the province. BRUNSWICK NEWS ARCHIVESArticle content
Nearly half of New Brunswickers polled say health care got worse in the province over the last year, according to a new poll.
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The new province-wide survey conducted by Abacus Data for the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick also shows overwhelming support for giving paramedics a greater role in delivering health care in the province.
That said, much like the health care system, they also currently face staffing shortages.
The Holt government has made it a central priority of its first year to bolster health care access across the province.
It committed to establish at least 10 collaborative care teams across New Brunswick in 2025, announcing a ninth in St. Stephen last week.
The Department of Health is currently projected to be over budget by $146.8 million this fiscal year.
Even so, those surveyed give the current system low marks.
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Asked if they feel the quality of health care in the province has been better or worse over the last year, a combined 46 per cent said it was getting somewhat or much worse.
That’s compared to 25 per cent suggesting it was getting better.
That was even less than the 26 per cent that said no change.
A total of 62 per cent of those aged 49 to 59 answered that quality of health care is declining – a higher proportion than in other age groups.
Those aged 18 to 29 years old were the most optimistic about the system, with 46 per cent suggesting health care is getting better.
Results were also divided along party lines.
A total of 70 per cent of New Brunswickers who said they would vote for the Progressive Conservatives if there was an election today also say the health care system is now in a worse position.
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That falls to 49 per cent among Greens, 35 per cent among NDP voters, and 27 per cent of Liberal voters.
Contrasting those numbers are opinions on paramedicine.
A total of 60 per cent of New Brunswickers polled currently rate paramedic and ambulance services in the province as “excellent” or “good” and about the same proportion, 62 per cent, rate the quality of services in the place where they live as excellent or good as well.
When asked to rank how much they trust medical professionals in New Brunswick, doctors and then nurses scored the highest.
Paramedics then finished third, just ahead of pharmacists.
Nearly eight in 10, 79 per cent of New Brunswickers polled, then said they were comfortable with the idea of paramedics playing a greater role in delivering health care in the province and their home community.
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Party support also made little to no difference, with 92 per cent of current NDP supporters, Greens, 85 per cent, and Liberals, 84 per cent, and Progressive Conservatives, 74 per cent, saying they’re comfortable with the idea of paramedics playing a greater role.
The survey then asks New Brunswickers how comfortable they would be with paramedics specifically having a greater role working on primary care teams and in emergency departments.
That saw 82 per cent support from those polled.
Just 10 per cent said they were uncomfortable with the change.
Whether the province could do that is another question.
Earlier this year, amid a provincial shortage of paramedics, the Holt government announced it was spending $6.5 million on a bursary program for paramedic and emergency medical technician students who signed a contract committing to work in the province – and not leave to go elsewhere.
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The money was to fund the full cost of training for 273 paramedics and 39 EMTs with students graduating this year and next.
To get a full ride, paramedics must work two years in New Brunswick, while EMTs are required to work at least one.
That’s as Health Minister John Dornan said the province is about 200 paramedics short.
Ambulance New Brunswick has previously told Brunswick News it is operating at a 28 per cent shortage of paramedics every day.
It all follows a move last year by the Nova Scotia government where it announced it would cover full tuition costs for more than 460 people who want to become a primary care paramedic or emergency medical responder.
The Paramedic Association of New Brunswick is also streamlining its licensing process to make it easier for internationally trained paramedics to work in New Brunswick.
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Still, the opportunity for change is potentially looming.
Earlier this year, the Union of Municipalities New Brunswick, the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Association of Fire Chiefs called for a review and reform of paramedic services.
That as the provincial ambulance service contract, which currently belongs to Medavie Health Services New Brunswick, also comes up for renewal in 2027.
Abacus Data conducted an online survey from Oct. 24 to Oct. 30, among a representative randomized sample of 600 New Brunswick adults as part of its New Brunswick Omnibus Survey.
A probability sample of this size carries a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Full results are available here.
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