News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Canopy Growth Corp., one of the world’s largest cannabis producers, will create up to 136 jobs in Fredericton over the next six years. The jobs are expected to result from the corporation’s $40-million investment in a new production facility.

“Your government is committed to ensuring the legalization of adult-use cannabis is introduced in the safest and most secure way to protect our youth and vulnerable populations so we can keep the proceeds from selling cannabis out of the hands of criminals,” said Premier Brian Gallant. “We are also pursuing the economic opportunities created by the legalization of cannabis by the federal government. When world-leading companies like Canopy Growth choose to invest in New Brunswick because of our skilled workforce, it reinforces that our multi-year economic growth plan is working.”

Canopy Growth’s decision to invest in Fredericton highlights the strength of New Brunswick’s fast-growing cannabis sector, said Gallant. Cannabis is identified as a strategic opportunity in the New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan.

It is estimated that the creation of up to 136 new jobs would produce provincial income tax revenue of $6.5 million and contribute $61.2 million in direct GDP for the province over six years.

“We are so pleased to be opening this new production facility here in Fredericton and adding to our world-leading cannabis production platform,” said Canopy Growth’s chairman and CEO Bruce Linton. “New Brunswick has a world-class cannabis ecosystem and a skilled workforce. It was an easy decision for us to locate here.”

To staff its new facility, the company will fill a variety of jobs, including lab supervisors, technologists, growers, post-harvest crews, quality assurance experts, maintenance crews and shipping and on-site retail staff.

To support the creation of these jobs, Canopy Growth is eligible for an investment of up to $1.3 million from Opportunities NB, which is a Crown corporation that seeks to attract and support opportunities to grow the economy and create jobs. It provides support services for businesses across New Brunswick.

This investment will be in the form of payroll rebates, which are performance-based and only disbursed to a company once it has met criteria set out in its agreement with Opportunities NB. Canopy Growth will receive a rebate annually based on a percentage of the salary of every job filled that meets the conditions of the agreement.

New Brunswick has an established cannabis ecosystem, with research being done at universities and training courses being offered at the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick. Opportunities NB estimates that up to 3,000 new jobs will be created in the province’s cannabis industry by the end of 2022.