Mental health advocate legislation to come in the spring<\/p>\n
Published Oct 26, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 6\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Fredericton is \u201chigh up on the list\u201d of potential sites for the next mental health court in New Brunswick, says the minister responsible for addictions and mental health services.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Holt government recently pledged to identify the next community for a mental health court in 2026. Saint John has long had a mental health court, while Moncton will see the program launch in mid-March or April, the minister told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s eight jurisdictions in the province, so (with) Saint John and Moncton, it leaves six to go and the hope is to expand to all six, but we will evaluate where the next best place would be, with Fredericton certainly being high up on the list,\u201d said Rob McKee, who is the minister of justice, the province\u2019s attorney general, and the minister responsible for addictions and mental health services.<\/p>\n A mental health court helps those who run afoul of the law due to mental health issues, connecting them with community resources instead of focusing on punishment.<\/p>\n Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The goals of the diversion program are to broaden access to mental health services, while improving court efficiency and reducing recidivism.<\/p>\n In June, McKee announced<\/a> Moncton would finally see a mental health court next spring after a years-long delay under previous provincial governments.<\/p>\n Before a legislative committee<\/a> early last year, Deputy Justice Minister Mike Comeau blamed the ongoing delay on the shortage of health-care workers necessary to run mental health and addictions programming to support the expansion.<\/p>\n Government spokesperson Clarissa Andersen told Brunswick News in June the staffing situation had been reviewed and, in fact, there were enough employees to support the program, with most services having wait times considered \u201cmanageable\u201d for those participating in mental health court in Moncton.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Moncton\u2019s program will also serve those facing criminal charges who have addictions like substance use and gambling.<\/p>\n Last fall, the Liberals campaigned on a promise to expand mental health court access in New Brunswick at an estimated cost of $6 million over four years.<\/p>\n When asked what criteria will be considered for determining the location of the next mental health court in New Brunswick, McKee told reporters that community services need to be available.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Moncton, we were able to identify a couple dozen service providers that can join with the court health navigators that will be hired to ensure that we can find a placement within a reasonable time for individuals to get the help, the treatment, the counselling that they would need.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Brunswick News asked the government how much has been allocated in the 2025-26 budget for the new addictions and mental health court in Moncton. The newspaper did not receive a response by deadline.<\/p>\n Mental health advocate legislation to come in the spring<\/p>\n In addition to the mental health court commitment in its throne speech, the Holt government also pledged to create more treatment spaces next year.<\/p>\n \u201cA 50-bed facility will open in summer 2026 to increase support to individuals with complex substance use issues,\u201d the speech reads.<\/p>\n Last fall, ahead of the provincial election, the former Blaine Higgs Progressive Conservative government issued a request for proposals<\/a> to find an operator for a 50-bed adult addiction treatment centre.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Brunswick News asked the Department of Health late last month for details about the project, including location and cost. The department told the newspaper it was \u201clooking forward to finalizing details to share with New Brunswickers in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n The Holt government has also now committed to a spring timeline to introduce legislative amendments to create the long-awaited role of mental health advocate.<\/p>\n![\"Minister](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1024-lb-mental-health-court.jpg\")
Minister Rob McKee says Fredericton is ‘high on the list’ of potential sites for the next mental health court in New Brunswick. Moncton is expected to see its long-awaited addictions and mental health court program start as early as mid-March 2026. BRUNSWICK NEWS ARCHIVESArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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