The provincial government has proposed major changes to the Small Business Investor Tax Credit that could provide a boost to entrepreneurs and investors in Quispamsis. Announced on May 5, 2026, by Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy and Economic Development and Small Business Minister Luke Randall, who is also the Minister responsible for Opportunities NB, the plan aims to encourage investment in local businesses and stimulate economic growth across New Brunswick.
If the proposed updates to the Small Business Investor Tax Credit are approved, they will apply retroactively to investments made on or after March 17, 2026. A key change includes raising the tax credit rate for corporate investors from 15 per cent to 25 per cent. Individual investors will continue to receive a 50 per cent tax credit, which the province notes is the highest rate of its kind in Canada.
The province is introducing a two-tiered structure that offers higher investment limits for strategic sectors. Businesses involved in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, manufacturing, architecture and engineering, digital media, performing arts, and information technology will be eligible for investment limits of up to $1 million for both individual and corporate investors. For non-strategic sectors, the investment limits remain at $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations.
To broaden access to the program, the government plans to raise the maximum threshold for an eligible corporation’s net tangible assets from $40 million to $50 million. The program will also begin accepting convertible debentures as an eligible funding vehicle. Monica Gaudet-Justason, president and CEO of the New Brunswick Business Council, supported the proposal, noting that the changes help de-risk capital deployment into local businesses during uncertain economic times.
The proposed amendments also include steps to streamline how the program is managed, such as clearer return processes, formal objection mechanisms, and monetary penalties for non-compliance.
