This has certainly aided the economy, as New Brunswick's large, truly bilingual population, in combination with government incentives, has brought many service-oriented businesses to the province. In 1970 the City of Saint John became North America's first deep-water oil tanker port. Oil refining here became a major economic player, and the city has very much gained economically from this and a reviving shipbuilding industry brought about largely from orders from the Canadian Navy. Significant deposits of potash and precious metals have recently been discovered, as well as the already established mining of copper, lead and zinc. Lumber, pulp and paper still play a major role, as does fishing in particular for lobster, crab and sardines.
Potatoes grow well here, and New Brunswick's seed potatoes are exported worldwide.
It can certainly be said that today, New Brunswick is well on the road to a stable and diverse economy. The province's proximity to the ocean keeps coastal areas slightly cooler in the summer than further inland. New Brunswick has incredible beaches, and the ocean temperature is remarkably warm. Rain is fairly frequent, especially in the south, August is the driest month. With New Brunswick's abundance of forest and woodland, fall is spectacular, and rivals better known areas in New England for its autumn colours.