From elections and music festivals to new minimum wages and flight routes, here are 25 things Maritimers can expect to see in 2025.
Elections and civics
New impaired driving laws in N.B.
New provincial laws on Jan. 1 will give police discretion to issue an immediate roadside suspension or lay criminal charges against impaired drivers.
A new lieutenant-governor in N.B.
Louise Imbeault will become New Brunswick’s new lieutenant-governor, replacing Brenda Murphy, who is wrapping up a five-year term.
Canadian federal election
Canadians will vote for their representatives in Ottawa on or before Oct. 21, with 25 Maritime electoral ridings making up a total of 338 across the country.
N.B. municipal elections
Local government elections for mayors and councillors across New Brunswick will happen May 12.
Money
Another large increase for NB Power customers
Residential NB Power customers will face a 9.7 per cent rate hike on April 1, which will contribute to a two-year increase of nearly 20 per cent.
HST in N.S. will go down
The provincial portion of Nova Scotia’s harmonized sales tax will go down one per cent, to 14 per cent, beginning April 1.
Minimum wage changes in N.B. and N.S.
The hourly minimum wage is scheduled to change April 1 in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, tied to the consumer price index.
New rent cap in N.B., changing rent cap on P.E.I.
A new three per cent rent cap will take effect in New Brunswick on Feb. 1. On Prince Edward Island, a maximum annual allowable rent increase of 2.3 per cent takes effect Jan. 1.
Price predictions to add pressure
Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab says all food categories will experience a rise in prices, with added stress from a low Canadian dollar, which could fall even more.
Transportation
New flight services in the Maritimes
WestJet says it will introduce nonstop seasonal service between Sydney and Calgary, and Fredericton and Calgary, this summer. The airline company says it will also reintroduce its flight between Halifax and Paris this summer.
Halifax-Dartmouth bridge toll removal
As promised by Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives during this past fall’s election, bridge tolls will be removed from the Macdonald and MacKay spans in Halifax by April 1.
Reduced hours at some N.B.-Maine border crossings
New operating hours will begin Jan. 6 at New Brunswick’s international crossings in Bloomfield, Gillespie Portage, Fosterville, and St. Croix.
Restoration of ferry services between N.S. and P.E.I.
Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King says the federal government assures two ferry services will return in 2025. Disruptions began in 2022 with an engine fire on the MV Holiday Island. Then the MV Confederation collided with a wharf this September, followed by “technical issues” in December.
Events
Nova Scotia Heritage Day to recognize Nora Bernard
Nora Bernard, a Mi’kmaq activist who fought for the recognition of residential school survivors, will be honoured in Nova Scotia on Feb. 17.
Headliners announced early for Maritime music festivals
Shania Twain, Tyler Hubbard, and Lainey Wilson will headline the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in July.
Dieppe’s UQM Country Fest in August will feature Kane Brown, Jelly Roll and Luke Bryan.
Fredericton’s Harvest Music Festival in September will include Melissa Etheridge, The Indigo Girls, and The Head and the Heart.
PGA Tour Americas returns to N.B.
The 2025 Explore NB Open golf tournament returns to Mactaquac Provincial Park from June 30 to July 6 – one of 10 stops on the PGA Tour Americas North American swing.
Partial solar eclipse over the Maritimes
A partial solar eclipse will cast a shadow over the three Maritime provinces on March 29.
Canadian Snowbirds over Summerside, P.E.I.
The Canadian Snowbirds will participate in Air Show Atlantic in Summerside, P.E.I., on June 28 and 29.
Maritime milestones
150th anniversary of the first woman bachelor’s degree in Canada
In 1875, Grace Annie Lockhart was the first woman in the British Empire to receive a bachelor’s degree (in science and English literature from what is now Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B.)
125th anniversary of the IODE
Founded in Fredericton in 1900, the women’s charitable organization IODE gives scholarships, bursaries, book prizes, and awards across the country.
30th anniversary of Miramichi becoming an amalgamated N.B. city
The former towns of Newcastle, Chatham, and other villages and local service districts became an official city in 1995.
Outside of the Maritimes
Major television events
The world’s most-watched television events will air live on CTV with the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 from New Orleans, and the Academy Awards on March 2 from Hollywood.
The 2025 ECMAs in St. John’s
The 37th edition of the East Coast Music Awards will include five days of live performances around St. John’s, celebrating music from the four Atlantic provinces.
U.S. inauguration day
The U.S. presidential inauguration of Donald Trump will happen Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.
2025 Canada Games in St. John’s
Over 3,000 young athletes from across the country will compete in the Canada Games from Aug. 8 to 25 in Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city.
