A judge at the New Brunswick Court of Appeal has granted bail to Daniel Bard, 61, who was sentenced in July to five years in prison after being convicted of multiple financial crimes. The release comes as Bard pursues an appeal of both his convictions and sentence.
Background and convictions
Bard was sentenced in Moncton in July after a provincial court trial that resulted in convictions on several counts, including four counts of fraud, one count of attempted fraud, five counts of possessing property obtained by crime and one count of money laundering. The offences related to transactions that prosecutors say took place from 2016 to 2020 across communities in New Brunswick.
The trial touched on Bard's role as a senior official in a local economic development organisation. At the time some of the alleged offences occurred, Bard was vice-president of investment attraction for 3+ Corp., a municipally funded agency serving the Moncton region.
Court of Appeal decision and conditions
Justice Bradley Green of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal granted Bard bail on Tuesday. The Crown opposed the release but acknowledged that Bard is not considered a flight risk, according to the brief ruling.
"refrain from seeking, obtaining, or continuing any employment, or becoming or being a volunteer in any capacity, that involves having authority over the real property, money, or valuable security of another person."
The court attached a number of conditions to Bard's release to limit risks while the appeal is outstanding. Those conditions include:
- Remaining in the province of New Brunswick
- Surrendering his passport to the RCMP
- Notifying police of any change in address or employment
- Refraining from employment or volunteer roles that involve authority over others' property, money or securities
- Appearing before the Court of Appeal on Jan. 12, 2027
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sentence | Five years (imposed in July) |
| Convictions | Fraud, attempted fraud, possession of property obtained by crime, money laundering |
| Next scheduled appearance | Jan. 12, 2027 (Court of Appeal) |
Procedural history
Bard's legal journey has been prolonged by several delays. He was arrested and charged in 2022. His initial provincial court trial began in April 2025 but ended in a mistrial after his defence counsel withdrew due to health reasons. A retrial followed; Judge Anne Richard convicted Bard in May. Bard filed a handwritten notice of appeal last month, citing issues related to his defence lawyer.
Following sentencing in July, Bard sought to stay out of custody while the appeal is heard. The appeal court's brief decision laying out bail reflected the Crown's position that, despite opposing release, Bard did not pose a flight risk.
Local impact and public interest
The case has attracted attention in the Moncton region and beyond because it involves alleged misuse of funds tied to business financing and an economic development agency. Court testimony described bidirectional financial dealings: prosecutors said Bard would take deposits from businesses intended to secure larger financing and then keep those funds when the promised financing did not materialize.
As Bard awaits the appeal process, the conditions of his bail appear designed to reduce risk of further harm to potential victims and to ensure his availability to the court. The matter will continue to unfold in the months ahead as the Court of Appeal examines the grounds for appeal.
Further procedural dates and rulings will be monitored closely by those following the case in New Brunswick's legal and business communities.
