Mental health court to expand to Moncton next year
Minster Rob McKee announces new program for those struggling with mental health and addiction
A program that has existed in Saint John for years is expanding to Moncton.
The mental health court, expected to be up and running in March 2026, will offer an alternative to the traditional court system for people struggling with serious mental health or addiction issues.
"We studied what Saint John was doing and we're taking bits of best practices everywhere and trying to make the best efficient system that we can here," said Justice Minister Rob McKee after making the announcement on Monday.
While Saint John's system is limited to mental health, the Moncton program will also accept people dealing with substance use.
"These individuals would see themselves in the court no matter what," McKee said.
"So we're looking at finding new ways to give them the help and the treatment that they need and deserve, and ultimately keep them from coming back to court."
At the announcement, a department spokesperson said there's been a 30 per cent increase in demand for addictions and mental health services in Moncton over the past six years.
Eligibility and exceptions
In order to qualify for the program, participants must be suffering from substance abuse or mental illness. They must take part voluntarily and can't be in custody. It's only available to those over the age of 18, and the participant must accept responsibility for the offence they're charged with, as well as understand the goals of the program or have someone who can help them.
"I believe that this program, by emphasizing recovery, compassion and accountability — that we'll see success," said McKee. "And ultimately leading to better health outcomes for these people."
There are also disqualifying factors. Individuals can't participate if they have a "serious, recent prior record of violence or drug offences." People can't participate if they are charged with a sexual offence involving someone younger than 16, if the charge is a driving offence that resulted in bodily harm to someone else or if the Crown is seeking a sentence of more than two years.
The program will differ from Saint John's mental health court because it will involve all judges, rather than having one judge specifically for mental health court.
"It's a program that will be available to every judge, no matter the day of the week, whoever has the docket, that date, that program will be available," McKee said.
He estimates that about 100 people will appear in the Moncton mental health court each year, as compared to the 40 who are seen in Saint John annually.
"So we feel that we can see more people succeed. I think we can grow by three to four times the amount of people that are going to be able to go through the program than what we've seen in Saint John."
'She did not deserve to be brought in court'
Through the program, participants will be connected with a range of resources, including withdrawal management, housing assistance, income assistance and in-patient psychiatric services.
It's a program that Paul Ouellet wishes existed in 2015. That's when his sister was charged with assaulting a nurse during a schizophrenic episode.
"She arrived in court on a cold winter morning, shackled down at the hand and at the foot," he said.
"She did not deserve to be brought in court, she was not responsible."
Since then, he's been advocating for mental health courts across the province.
"Today is an exceptional day for me," he said. "Each and every person in the province deserves to be treated with respect and dignity and especially with compassion."
Ouellet is still pushing to expand the program to other jurisdictions, starting with Fredericton next.
McKee agrees the program should continue to grow in the province.
"Access to justice is for everyone," McKee said. "Not just one geographic location."
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