LISTEN: Offshore energy investment heats up across the region, Nova Scotia restructures its immigration nominee program, New Brunswick strikes a tourism deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s new government tables its first full budget.

This week on the Atlantic Canada Business Report, host Peter McCully covers major offshore energy activity in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, the restructuring of Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program, a used car dealership fraud investigation in lower Sackville, a new home care acquisition, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2026—27 budget. Inceptio Oil and Gas has committed more than 210 million dollars in exploration near Sable Island, while the Newfoundland and Labrador budget allocates 90 million dollars to a new offshore exploration fund as the Bay du Nord project moves toward a final investment decision.

Nova Scotia is overhauling its Provincial Nominee Program with a 12-month expiry on expressions of interest and a tiered priority framework that favours healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople. New Brunswick has inked a three-year, 1.6-million-dollar tourism marketing partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Premier Susan Holt has signalled she is prepared to restore American alcohol to provincial shelves if significant tariffs are rolled back. In Prince Edward Island, Ottawa and the province have signed a workforce tariff response agreement targeting sectors most exposed to trade uncertainty. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Progressive Conservative government’s first full budget projects a deficit of 688 million dollars with no new taxes, a phased small business tax reduction, and 5.4 billion dollars directed to healthcare.

Highlights:

Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are both pushing to attract offshore energy investment. Inceptio Oil and Gas committed more than 210 million dollars near Sable Island, while the Newfoundland budget allocates 90 million dollars to a new offshore exploration fund.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is restructuring its Provincial Nominee Program with a new 12-month expiry period for expressions of interest and a tiered priority framework that fast-tracks healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople while restricting lower-skilled occupational categories.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick has signed a three-year, 1.6-million-dollar tourism marketing partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, providing provincial visibility through game-day experiences, a national travel contest, and digital storytelling aimed at the team’s broad Canadian fan base.

Prince Edward Island

The federal government and Prince Edward Island have signed a workforce tariff response agreement to support island workers affected by trade disruptions. The province’s unemployment rate stood at 7.3 percent in March, linked in part to tariff-related pressures.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Progressive Conservative government has tabled its first full budget, projecting a deficit of 688 million dollars with no new taxes or fee increases, a small business tax cut, and 5.4 billion dollars allocated to healthcare.

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