This mass influx of Loyalists created a rift between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and New Brunswick became a separate province in June, 1784. In 1867 it joined other provinces to form the Dominion of Canada. The People In 1996, the population of New Brunswick was 761 075. The heritage of New Brunswick's people is a blended one, combining elements of the French, British Loyalist, Scots and Irish traditions, with later elements of German, Scandinavian and Asian. The little municipality of New Denmark boasts North America's largest Danish colony.
Tourism is a vital part of the province's economy.
In 1991, nearly 1.5 million people visited New Brunswick's tourist attractions, including its two national parks and numerous provincial parks. New Brunswick has an abundance of natural resources. Mining, too, is important. New Brunswickers mine silver, bismuth, cadmium, coal, copper, natural gas, gold, oil, lead, potash, peat, tungsten, silica, salt and zinc. Fishing and agriculture are also very important.