Alex MacLean working through his shift at St. Thomas University, where rising costs are making life harder to afford. (Credit: Suzanne Shah/AQ) Alex MacLean realized something had shifted when a routine grocery trip in Fredericton cost around $150. “I did not expect us to be where we are now,” he said. MacLean works full-time as a cleaner at St. Thomas University. For years, steady employment meant stability. Rent was manageable, groceries were predictable and budgeting felt