Transportation Officials Cite Decade-Old Cuts for Data Delays
Transportation authorities in New Brunswick acknowledge significant delays in processing highway collision data, attributing the backlog to budget reductions implemented over a decade ago. Department officials confirmed current efforts to modernize data collection while admitting the absence of a comprehensive highway safety strategy.
Systemic Data Processing Failures Revealed
Deputy Transportation Minister Kelly Cain revealed to legislative committee members that when she joined the department in 2016, staff encountered “boxes and boxes” of unprocessed collision reports with no dedicated personnel to address them. “We are negligent in that,” Cain stated regarding the missing safety strategy. “We all know that. It’s a piece of work that’s in our work plan.”
Alarming Safety Statistics Surface
Recent national traffic collision statistics identified New Brunswick as having the highest per capita fatality rate among Canadian provinces. Auditor General Paul Martin previously noted the transportation department failed to analyze police-provided collision data promptly, with zero reports completed within a year and 80% requiring 1-2 years for processing.
Martin emphasized that delayed data analysis hinders the department’s ability to implement timely safety improvements. Cain publicly acknowledged these systemic shortcomings during committee testimony.
Legacy of Budget Reductions
Officials traced the data processing crisis to 2010-2014 budget cuts that eliminated specialized staff positions. “We are now caught up over a number of years,” Cain explained. “It was a massive exercise to rehire people and get up and running again.”
Modernization Efforts Underway
The department now employs a digital system that automatically collects collision data from police departments through Public Safety Canada. Transportation officials utilize this information to adjust speed limits, install signage, and upgrade guardrails—with future plans to inform road improvement projects.
Despite these advancements, Cain noted some municipal police forces haven’t adopted the new digital reporting system. When questioned about whether a safety strategy could have prevented some of the 52,000 collisions recorded since 2016, Cain suggested limitations: “Many accidents are caused by distracted drivers or other factors that highway design can’t correct.”
Future Funding Concerns Emerge
With current government consultations exploring potential service reductions to prioritize healthcare and economic funding, Progressive Conservative MLA Rob Weir expressed concern about renewed cuts impacting data collection. While Cain assured any transportation reductions would have “minimal” impact due to technological advancements, Weir remained skeptical.
“I’m worried about those cuts,” Weir told journalists. “Any reduction affecting how we collect collision data is something that I’m not pleased to hear.”
