Doubling Appointments to Top Honour

Summary#

This bill changes the Order of New Brunswick, the province’s highest honour. It increases how many people can be appointed each year and updates how the selection council’s appointed members serve and can be removed.

• Raises the annual limit of new recipients from five to ten.
• Clarifies that certain members of the Order’s advisory council stay in their role until they resign, are reappointed, or are replaced.
• Allows the provincial cabinet (Executive Council) to remove those council members only “for cause” (a specific reason), and only if the council recommends it.
• Removes a clause that let the cabinet set the term length for these appointed council members.

What it means for you#

• Residents and community leaders

  • More New Brunswickers can be recognized each year. If you or someone you nominate has strong community impact, the chances of selection are higher.
  • No change to public services or taxes. This affects honours and recognition only.

• Community groups and nominators

  • You can continue to nominate deserving people. With more spots each year, worthy nominees may not wait as long.

• Members of the Order who may serve on the advisory council

  • If appointed to the council, you serve until you resign, are reappointed, or are replaced.
  • You can be removed only for cause, and only if the council recommends removal to the cabinet.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• More slots each year mean the province can honour a wider range of people from different regions and fields.
• Reduces the backlog of worthy nominees and keeps annual lists from being too limited.
• Clear “serve-until-replaced” rules add stability to the advisory council’s work.
• “For cause” removal protects the council from sudden political changes while still allowing accountability.
• Aligns the Order with practices in other honours systems that recognize more recipients annually.

Opponents' View#

• Doubling the annual appointments could dilute the prestige of the honour.
• Letting appointed council members serve until replaced may reduce turnover and fresh perspectives.
• Requiring a council recommendation to remove a member could limit government oversight if problems arise.
• Could add small costs (ceremonies, medals, administration) without clear public benefit.