Minister of Public Safety Robert Gauvin

With new federal legislation targeting organized retail crime, the Retail Council of Canada is renewing its push to curb rising theft in New Brunswick.

Jim Cormier, the council’s director of government relations for Atlantic Canada, said the introduction of Bill C-14 — which targets auto theft and organized crime through stricter bail conditions and tougher sentencing — has strengthened the organization’s call for increased police patrols in major retail areas across the province.

“We’d love to see more beat cops in communities across New Brunswick,” he said.

Cormier said a stronger police presence in high‑traffic retail zones can help deter organized retail crime groups.

Since 2020, he said, these networks have become more active, fuelled by the rise of online marketplaces, their increased use during the pandemic and inflationary prices — trends now affecting smaller provinces like New Brunswick.

“These organized retail criminals are just waltzing into stores, taking what they want,” he said. “They’re not even bothering to cover their faces lately, and they don’t run because they know nothing is going to be done to them.”

Cormier said the council met last week with Saint John police chief Robert Bruce, who chairs the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police, to discuss ways they can work together.

While he described the conversation as positive, he said the council hopes to do more, including sharing best practices with local members.

The organization would also like to see the provincial government invest in increased policing in key retail districts. But with the provincial budget for 2026–27 forecasting a deficit of nearly $1.4 billion, Cormier said the council understands funding may be limited. Still, he said the RCC will continue speaking with police and policymakers to find solutions.

He said improving incident reporting will also be a priority, as police staffing decisions are often driven by statistics.

“We know cops aren’t the be‑all and end‑all, but it certainly helps if you have a visual deterrent,” he said.

Cormier added that retailers often feel frustrated when they do report crimes, saying police response times can sometimes be slow. That frustration is compounded, he said, by a justice system that appears to release retail crime offenders quickly.

He said the council is not focused on first‑time offenders, but rather on prolific repeat offenders who may use violence or threats.

Cormier also met last week with Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin to update him on the council’s advocacy efforts and to continue pushing for provincial support to help fund municipal policing — a model used in provinces such as Manitoba and Nova Scotia.