Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy won’t commit to a new deadline for property tax reforms as the province moves toward an unexpected one-year assessment freeze.  

The Holt Liberal government introduced Tuesday a bill to freeze most property assessments next year – a decision billed as an affordability measure, with the silver lining of effectively buying the province more time to deliver on promised property tax reforms.  

“We don’t want to do (reforms) haphazardly,” Kennedy said at the legislature Wednesday.  

“We want to make sure that we come up with the right model that works for municipal partners, that works for government and certainly works for the people of New Brunswick that are paying those bills.”  

Last fall, the Liberals campaigned on a promise to complete an overhaul of the tax system in time for the 2026 taxation year, accusing the then Higgs Progressive Conservative government of dragging its feet on municipal fiscal reform.

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Woodstock brothers Macauley and Micah Martin have reached the grand finale on season four of Canada's Got Talent. Photo: Submitted

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A “secret” Canadian government report has pushed back against the Trump administration’s claims that Canada’s border poses a national security risk, Global News reported. The document states fears of terrorists crossing into the U.S. from Canada are exaggerated and not backed by data. While U.S. politicians, including President Donald Trump, have called the border “porous,” the report found only six flagged suspects tried to enter between crossings since 2022. Most entries were legal and few involved actual threats. The report warns that such claims are being used to justify tariffs and border crackdowns not based on real evidence.

Rising tariffs between the U.S. and China are beginning to slow trade, raising concerns about future shortages and price hikes in both countries, as well as possibly in Canada too, Global News. New data from tracking company Vizion shows fewer shipments are moving across the Pacific, as U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports hit 145%, and China’s response with a 125% duty. While Canadian shelves remain stocked for now due to pre-tariff stockpiling, experts warn this buffer won’t last. Because many Canadian goods rely on U.S. and Chinese supply chains, the impact could soon be felt by shoppers as costs rise and inventories shrink.

India launched missile strikes on Pakistan early Wednesday, hitting nine locations and killing more than 24 people, including women and children, Pakistan’s military said, the Associated Press reported. India’s Defence Ministry said the targets were linked to planned terrorist activity. In response, Pakistan called the attack an act of war and claimed to have shot down five Indian jets. Tensions have been rising since a deadly April attack in Kashmir killed 26 Indian tourists, which India blames on a militant group it said is tied to Pakistan. As both nuclear-armed countries trade threats, the international community is urging restraint to avoid a larger conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump greets Prime Minister Mark Carney upon his arrival at the White House Tuesday. Photo: The White House

Frank McKenna says Mark Carney has “put to bed” Trump’s 51st state talk.  

And in doing so, the former New Brunswick premier and Canada’s former ambassador to the United States says it will hopefully now allow Canada and the United States to find some level of certainty and stability in the days ahead. 

“I viewed the whole thing positively,” McKenna said in an interview with Brunswick News analyzing the high stakes meeting at the White House. “Clearly, Trump was very respectful to our prime minister. Clearly, he respects our prime minister and likes him and that is really important.  

“And the gating issue about Canada becoming part of the United States, our prime minister just put that to bed, flat out.  

“There can be no question about that.”  

That leads to what’s next.  

“Now, we can get down to debunking the facts that Trump is using and get the real facts on the table and talking about the mutual benefits of working together,” McKenna said.  

“I think that’s what was being done in the room with sleeves rolled up and hopefully out of that will come a process to allow us to get back on track.”  

The Oval Office meeting was marked by Carney’s emphatic words that Canada won't be for sale, ever.  

They were met by Trump adding in “never say never,” although acknowledging that “it takes two to tango” and that it wouldn’t be a topic of further discussion, if no one else wanted to bring it up.