Every Newfoundlander and Labradorian deserves to feel safe in their community. Budget 2026 will support making communities safer through investments in the justice system and support for municipalities, ensuring safe roadways and safe places for all of us.
Ensuring Public Safety
Making certain every community in Newfoundland and Labrador feels safe and secure is a priority for your government. Through investments in law enforcement and public prosecutions, we will deliver on our promise to prioritize public safety for all of us. Budget 2026 includes:
- $9 million annualized to enhance policing in the province by hiring 46 additional officers over the next two years. This investment will provide for 21 new RNC officers and 25 new RCMP officers.
- More than $1 million to create 14 new positions in Public Prosecutions, which includes six new Crown Attorneys, as well as funding for digital modernization to better manage criminal matters before the courts.
Enhancing Access to Justice
Timely access to justice is essential. Your government is enhancing court services and ensuring resources are in place to reduce delays across the province. Budget 2026 includes:
- Approximately $2.4 million to create new court staff positions to enhance court operations.
- Over $1.7 million to create seven additional Provincial Court Judge positions.
- $162,000 to continue support for the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network to fund the Gladue Report Program.
- Approximately $7 million to support court audio visual modernization.
- Approximately $350,000 to implement a Unified Bail Court where judges will hear bail hearings scheduled for St. John’s, Stephenville and Grand Falls-Windsor Provincial Courts.
Creating Safer Roadways
Our roadways weave our communities together, connecting people to jobs, schools, health care, local businesses, and one another. Budget 2026 includes:
- $14 million for brush clearing, road signage, culvert replacement, and road patching, including $3.8 million for moose fencing.
- $3 million for 24-hour snow clearing, including the expansion to more routes.
- $1 million in Budget 2026, and continuing in future years, for a phased expansion of cellular coverage across the province.
- Doubling the Labrador Transportation Grooming Subsidy to $1.1 million for the grooming and maintenance of approximately 870 kilometres of winter trails to ensure safe, reliable travel for isolated Labrador communities.
Supporting Violence Prevention
Your government will continue to support community-based grassroots organizations, as well as municipal and regional partners and the work they do to prevent violence and make our communities safe, especially for vulnerable groups and individuals. We will do this by:
- Funding of approximately $8 million to advance violence prevention initiatives, education and awareness activities, and capacity-building.
- Supporting initiatives such as the Community Violence Prevention Grants Program and the Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program, making sure that targeted, community and Indigenous-driven solutions reach underserved and rural regions.
Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response
As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, the need for collaboration has never been greater. Your government is committed to being prepared for emergencies such as floods, storms, and wildfires, and working together to keep communities safe.
Repairs on the province’s fifth water bomber are complete, the aircraft has returned to the fleet and is ready for service in the upcoming wildfire season. Delivering on our commitment to emergency preparedness, Budget 2026 includes:
- More than $7 million for equipment, supplies and staffing to provide volunteer firefighters with training and equipment to respond to floods, forest fires, medical calls and other emergencies. This includes five new Emergency Services positions to strengthen public safety.
- $730,000 to hire 25 additional wildfire fighters in 2027-28, as well as hiring 25 extra staff in 2026-27.
- An increase of $1.76 million in helicopter support to ensure we can continue timely wildfire responses, wildlife management and resource enforcement efforts.