CANADIAN RELOCATION
NEW BRUNSWICK PROFILE

New Brunswick: In the 2011 nationwide census, Statistics Canada estimated the provincial population to have been 751,171. The majority of the population is English-speaking, but there is also a large Francophone minority (33%), chiefly of Acadian origin.

New Brunswick, is bounded on the west by the U.S. state of Maine, on the north by the province of Quebec, on the east by the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait, and on the south by the Bay of Fundy. Its capital is Fredericton. New Brunswick entered into confederation with Canada in 1867.Area: 28,355 square miles (73,440 square km).

New Brunswick's forest cover has been increasing since 1950 and now occupies about 90 percent of the province. The principal trees are balsam fir, red and black spruce, pine, and hemlock. There are increasing numbers of deer and moose. Several rivers are famous for their Atlantic salmon, while trout, bass, and pickerel also attract sport fishing.

Forestry and lumbering are the province's largest industries, and pulp and paper production represents its largest single component, with many sawmills operating.

The forests supply material for lumber, plywood, chipboard, fuel, and Christmas trees and provide wide employment. Fishing continues to be important in the provincial economy, with lobster, crab, scallops, cod, and various other North Atlantic species making up the bulk of the catch.

In the second half of the 20th century, the mining of zinc, copper, lead, and silver in the northeast has become increasingly important.

New Brunswick's industrial development has been spurred by the development of hydroelectric power, supplemented by coal- and oil-fired and nuclear generating stations.

Saint John is a major port through which a high proportion of Canada's external trade passes. This is especially true during the winter months when traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway is curtailed. The province is served by highways, airlines, and railways.

New Brunswick's government since entering the Canadian Confederation in 1867 has comprised the unicameral Legislative Assembly, elected (by universal adult suffrage) generally to a four-year term. The leader of the majority party in the assembly becomes the premier and selects the Executive Council from the assembly.

Another member of the executive branch is the lieutenant governor, chosen by Canada's governor-general as the British monarch's representative.

Compulsory elementary and secondary public education is free through grade 12 and features bilingual English and French instruction. Vocational and technical training are offered in secondary school and also for adults.

Higher education is available from the University of New Brunswick, renowned for forestry and engineering, with a campus (Canada's oldest, founded in 1785) at Saint John and another campus at Fredericton; l'Université de Moncton, with three branch campuses, offering bilingual instruction; the private Mount Allison University at Sackville, founded 1842 as a Wesleyan institution; and St. Thomas University at Fredericton, a Roman Catholic institution.

Many artists of national repute reside in the province. Fredericton is also famous for its Playhouse theatre. All four of the province's universities support creative arts.

A pioneer village has been reconstructed at Kings Landing near Fredericton. The Fort Beauséjour National Historic Park near Sackville reminds visitors of the French and British roots of the province.

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