New Brunswick Proposes Copper Sales Restrictions to Curb Infrastructure Theft

Sourced from 2 news outlets · most facts from statements · no points in dispute. How we sourced this

New Brunswick is moving to tighten the market for copper wire, with proposed changes to the Salvage Dealers Licensing Act aimed at reducing thefts that can disrupt phone, internet and cellular services.

Key facts

• The New Brunswick government has introduced proposed changes to the Salvage Dealers Licensing Act to reduce copper wire theft that disrupts phone, internet, and cellular services.
• The proposals would restrict copper wire sales to licensed salvage dealers and would allow copper sales only from people lawfully entitled to possess and dispose of the wire.
• Sellers would be required to provide photo identification, and payment for copper would be delayed by 48 hours.
• The province says telecommunications and electricity companies are reporting increased copper thefts that have led to phone, internet, and electricity outages.

Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said the consequences reach beyond the value of the metal. “Making it harder for people to sell stolen copper is one way we can protect the infrastructure we rely on and keep working toward more reliable cell coverage across the province,” he said.

New rules for copper sales

The proposals would restrict copper wire sales to licensed salvage dealers. They would also allow sales only from people lawfully entitled to possess and dispose of the wire.

The move follows recent wire theft cases that disrupted service in New Brunswick, including the incident detailed in The Canada Report’s coverage of 135 residents losing phone service and three people being charged. The added identification and payment-delay rules are intended to make those sales easier to trace and harder to exploit.

Anyone selling copper would have to provide photo identification, while dealers would be required to wait 48 hours before making payment.

The province says telecommunications and electricity companies have reported increased copper thefts that have led to outages affecting phone, internet and electricity services. Gauvin said those interruptions can leave people unable to make an important call or get help when they need it.

Requirements and fines for salvage dealers

If the amendments pass, salvage dealers would be barred from accepting copper wire that has been burned or is no longer in its original manufactured state.

The proposals would bring new fines for dealers who accept or possess burned copper, or who purchase or accept copper from someone not legally entitled to possess or dispose of it.

Dealers would also have to retain records of sellers’ photo identification and post signs saying they may refuse suspicious transactions and report suspected stolen material to police.

Police say amendments would support investigations

Gary Forward, president of the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police, said:

“By making stolen copper more difficult to sell and giving police better information to support investigations, they can help protect critical infrastructure and the essential services New Brunswickers rely on,” Forward said.

Copper theft bill among six tabled Tuesday

The Canadian Press reported that the copper-theft legislation was among six bills tabled Tuesday by Premier Susan Holt’s Liberal government.

What we don't know yet

• It has not yet been decided whether the amendments will be passed by the legislative assembly.

How outlets covered it

• Huddle Saint John — “Tougher laws proposed to combat copper theft in New Brunswick”, Oct. 29, 2026. By Alex Allan. Led with proposed Salvage Dealers Licensing Act changes targeting copper wire theft. Quoted Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin; president of the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police Gary Forward. Not in the other reports here: plans for three new cellular towers.
• The Canadian Press (carried by Winnipeg Free Press) — “New Brunswick introduces legislation to crack down on copper wire theft”, Oct. 28, 2026. By Eli Ridder. Led with a planned crackdown on copper wire theft. Quoted province’s public safety minister Robert Gauvin; Provincial Justice Minister Robert McKee; Finance Minister René Legacy. Not in the other reports here: the copper theft bill being among six bills tabled Tuesday.

How we sourced this story

Also used

• California aims to crack down on copper wire theft as outages surge — Spectrum News 1, Oct. 29, 2026 (background)

How we put this together: we compare reporting from the outlets above, draft with the help of AI tools, and an editor checks every story before it's published. Our methodology.