2021 Municipal Election

Mayoral Candidates

Corinne Hersey

Under the status given to municipalities of Natural Person Power & Peace Order and Good Governance Powers: 5 (b) “to foster economic, social, and environmental well-being of its community.”

• Land Use:
  • Fredericton has the capacity to ensure natural land, forest, and wetlands protection into perpetuity.
  • Clean and green land-fill changes: Increased capacity for composting facilities on both the north and south sides of the river. Services for shared resources. So much of what goes into the land-fill recycling portion can and should be reused: bicycles, BBQ’s, ovens, wood… yet the public is unable to redeem those. Many countries around the world have returned to ‘fixing’ broken and throw-away items. Fredericton has that capacity with the skills and trades training we have at NBCC.
• Tourism, Heritage and Culture:
  • Ability to create municipal level CEDIFs (Community Economic Development Investment Funds) to support SMBs, particularly green-development, land regeneration, arts and culture, and climate action technology and action.
  • Heritage Upgrade Initiative: Loans and grants for heritage restoration, particularly retrofitting and a focus on intergenerational housing.
• Opportunities for New Brunswick:
  • Increased housing/Tenants Rights Act: Fredericton should be able to instill some real and much needed changes so that tenants have predictable and affordable housing.
  • Business Support Act: Actions respecting businesses to ensure they can continue in a period of pandemic or times of severe hardship. This global pandemic has hit every city, and many have responded to help their SMBs. For instance, Calgary and Hamilton reached out to small businesses. NPP would give municipalities even more confidence to put money on the table and share services, such as loans, grants, and shared services.

Mike O’Brien

Municipal reform must address taxation fairness. The 60-year-old taxation model has unintentionally driven ribbon sprawl immediately outside our City – where businesses and homes – pay drastically less property taxes, and where the large urban areas provide services to these residents that they are not fairly compensated for. This must be fairly addressed.

Municipal reform must set the tone for increased regional cooperation, perhaps on public safety, tourism and economic development. The LSD model is not sustainable, and must be re-tooled, so that our City and entire region, and our Province, prospers.

Municipal reform must provide for our City to have increased legislative and fiscal funding control (via taxation fairness/reform) over more “things that matter”. Such as: economic development, inclusionary zoning, business and residential incentives, by-law enforcement, taxation and assessment control.

Kate Rogers

The provincial government’s municipal reform is an important step toward ensuring that all New Brunswickers are well-represented at the municipal level. Currently, there are 104 local governments and 236 local service districts in the province, however, more than 30% of the population does not have elected representation in local government. Municipal reform provides an opportunity to figure out how we can work together, both the city and the surrounding communities, to create strong regional collaboration.

Important consideration must be paid to restructuring municipal governance, regional collaboration, land-use planning and financing. Incorporating local LSDs, creating larger tax bases for outlying communities could assist in advancing regional projects. This additional tax revenue could ensure that the facilities residents rely on are available when they need them.

Ward 1

Dennis Atchison

NONE. Doesn’t matter how Municipal Reform is implemented, the problem is entrenched attitudes. If Fredericton is unable to see itself as one community (north side, south side divide just one example), then working with New Maryland, Hanwell, Oromocto is a pipe dream. There is so much to be gained through working together, but this will only happen if people “let go” of how they have always done things … much like the Chamber vs. Downtown Fredericton Inc. vs. Main St. Business North example.  Remember, not long ago Sussex Corner refused to work with Sussex … and Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe have a long history of doing battle, as does Saint John, Rothesay and Quispamsis. The problem is not municipal reform and all the solutions it will bring … the problem is people’s entrenched attitudes. Doesn’t matter what the province decides at this point, sadly.

Karen Grant

Most New Brunswickers rely on urban centres for employment. Urban centres are home to the largest population and help drive economic growth, help attract new investment and home to new skilled immigrants looking to make a life in New Brunswick. The property tax allocation from the province to the municipalities is less than rural areas, yet municipalities are responsible for services to all residents. Rural residents living outside the city do not like paying an additional fee for recreation services because they do not live in the municipality.

Unfortunately, in order to recover the cost, this is required. Municipal reform will provide a better distribution of property tax so municipalities can provide the services that all residents need and expect. The increasing costs due to binding arbitration for our emergency services is becoming unaffordable for many municipalities, and may result in having to decrease the workforce in order to pay for emergency services, which will ultimately affect public safety.

Margo Sheppard

I have read the Green Paper on Municipal Reform and favour amendments that would see greater autonomy for municipalities to set tax rates for non-residential and industrial developments in order to better reflect the cost of providing services these users require. Places like Saint John have been hamstrung by low taxes paid by industrial giants in that City. At the same time, associated costs of police, fire, roads etc. cannot be recovered. 

A second amendment I would like to see is for the development of Provincial Policy Statements related to specific areas of concern. Several years ago such a statement was written to protect coastal areas; another was underway on wetlands. For some reason these were abandoned. I would favour resurrecting these for consistent application in land use planning across the province.

Finally, a fairer distribution of the unconditional grant from the Province is overdue. For years this has disadvantaged Fredericton, while other cities have received a greater share than is due.

Ward 2

No responses received.

Ward 3

Anthea Plummer

I would like to see permanent residents be able to vote in our municipal elections. They live and work here, their children go to school here, and they contribute to our community in a variety of important ways. The also care deeply about our community being successful, as this success impacts them as well.

Ward 4

Sheldon Currie

A streamlined system, 104 local governments and 236 LSDs cannot be fiscally responsible.  It equates to 2157 people per governing entity- what is the cost financially and how much time is wasted bureaucratically in these entities trying to work together, or against each other. More inclusive communities, with the Province taking a leadership role that embraces “all” people of this Province and understands their diversity and culture. If Toronto can do it, I am sure Fredericton as a very progressive community can do it.

Jocelyn Pike

Looking for increased support from the Province to the Municipality in the case of these shared facilities.  This will not be popular as the LSD’s want to remain independent and folks living outside the Municipality make that choice for more than simply a question of taxes.  The Municipality will need to work very closely with the Province to ensure the interests of the Municipality are protected.  This will not be a popular reform and will take time, patience and lots of energy to get this accomplished.

Eric Price

Reduction of urban sprawl and affordable housing.

Ward 5

No responses received.

Ward 6

Maegen Black

The Green Paper released by the provincial government outlines the issues faced by municipalities well: particularly in the duplication and imbalance of the distribution/cost of services throughout the regions. We need to streamline systems for increased effectiveness, and to encourage folks to WANT to be a part of this system. That will depend entirely on the process that is taken with these consultations, to ensure that communities see their perspectives reflected and respected in the outcome. The province will have to work hard to ensure that citizens understand what the options are, and what the ramifications of change will bring. I am open to a number of the recommendations presented in the report, and I think the most important thing we can do, collectively, is ensure active engagement in the consultation from across all communities, including First Nations communities, so that the path forged reflects the realities of those impacted. I do not think we need to recreate the wheel here – let’s look to successful advancements elsewhere in Canada, which we can view through our New Brunswick specific lens.

Ian LeTourneau

I’m hoping to see robust discussions that lead to more effective regional cooperation and cost sharing agreements for things like facilities. I would like to see greater regional collaboration for things like tourism, climate change adaptation (flooding in particular), and housing strategies. I’m hoping for changes to legislation to allow permanent residents to vote. I would also like to see stringent financing rules and I would like consideration given for term limits.

Sharon Levesque

I would like to see greater consultation with the provincial government. Such consultation could take the form of a provincial municipal liaison committee that would meet regularly with representatives from communities and the province. This committee could be effective in communicating municipal needs/concerns on an ongoing basis rather than ad hoc or at a time of crisis.

Ward 7

No responses received.

Ward 8

Greg Ericson

Municipal reform must achieve better revenue streams for our cities in order to address the fiscal challenges they are facing, it must establish a better framework for collaboration between the Province and the Cities to address areas of joint policy jurisdiction, and it must address regional governance reform to create a better collaboration between our Cities and their municipal neighbours.

Scott Smith

I would like to see more devolution of power from the Province to the Municipality particularly with assessment. Ideally, the City could waive the Double Tax of rental income that proves to be such a bane to affordable housing development. As mentioned in my second priority, we would benefit from a model for Regional funding for regional infrastructure projects like the pool or performing arts centre.

Ward 9

Stephen Chase

Two major issues I hope to see addressed in the municipal legislative reform are improved taxation capacity for municipalities and, are more latitude in governing legislation to deal with municipal issues.

Ruth Breen

I hope to see municipal tax reform and an increase to local democracy in the province. I believe new funding models are key to the municipalities’ ability to respond to the ever-increasing responsibilities and demands they face. When City facilities are enjoyed by residents of outlying areas, Fredericton is left with costs that are prohibitive given the present property tax model.

I also look forward to all New Brunswickers having equal representation. The present system leaves many New Brunswickers outside democratic decision-making for their local area.

Ward 10

Alan Atkins

This has ramifications for New Brunswick over the next several years and beyond.  Because there are so many LSD’s in the province (300+), many with little or no proper municipal governments in place, there are 3 areas to consider.  The first in developing and equitable tax system within our province so the smaller villages and towns share in the ability to pay for some high cost projects such as the pool or Performing Arts Centre in the Fredericton area.  Currently, there is a reluctance for these small centres to contribute to projects in larger centres.  Often, in the beginning, there is an agreement between municipalities but as the deadline for contributions gets closer, the funds no longer available for a variety of reasons.  When this occurs, the smaller areas surrounding a larger centre are still allowed to use facilities at a fraction of the initial cost.  A second area is governance, or lack of, in some cases with in the LSD’s.  There are currently 30% of our current LSD’s without a mayor or council.  When amalgamation is presented as a potential solution many smaller municipalities do not want this to happen.  To fairly tax and govern effectively, this should be looked at and discussed thoroughly.  Our school system from back in the 60’s and 70’s would be classic example of equalizing the tax burden so that all children from our province are educated equitably.  Education went from several 100 school districts to 7 over a 30 to 40 year period.  It’s not the perfect solution but it does spread the wealth amongst everyone.  According to the mayor in Miramichi, although they struggled with amalgamation 20 years ago he feels it was the right decision at the time and the benefits have proven very effective.

Cassandra Blackmore

For a population of 738,938, New Brunswick has 340 local entities. Because of this high number of entities relative to the population, there are inconsistent rules and service levels across our province. In addition, many of these local entities are LSDs which don’t have local representation. By merging LSDs into local government entities, we have the opportunity to establish regional forms of local governance and administration through our current regional service commissions. This has the potential to improve collaboration and efficiency between smaller towns while standardizing procedures and services! With this reform, the province also has the opportunity to establish Key Performance Indicators to ensure that every area of our province is receiving quality, consistent services.

Through this municipal reform consultation, the province also has the opportunity to provide municipalities more adaptability and progressive potential through alternative forms of financing and incentives. For example, Halifax has a program where they incentivize residents to retrofit their homes for energy efficiency by providing a guaranteed loan to residents that is paid back through increased property taxes for a set period of time. The loan is attached to the property, not the resident. Currently, under the New Brunswick Municipalities Act, this type of alternative financing is not possible. This is just one example of incentivizing that can have a positive impact on our city. These alternative forms of financing could be applicable to other areas of impact as well like affordable housing and heritage preservation.

As municipalities begin to tackle more issues that they may be unequipped or under equipped to handle, I also hope through this consultation on municipal reform the New Brunswick government will help give municipalities the legislation, financing and tools needed to properly address these pressing concerns. We need to find long term, equitable solutions for our city and our province, and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that. From homelessness to infrastructure to the climate crisis, we need more flexibility, more tools and more collaboration across the province.

Kelly Murray

The most helpful reforms are around taxation and regional cooperation.

Transfer of tax room from provincial to local governments and allowing local flexibility on rates and classifications would enable cities to do more with no increase in taxation. Currently municipalities get a small share of property taxes. The so-called “double taxation,” while not truly a double taxation, increase costs to rental properties and is necessarily reflected in rental rates and constrains the types of new housing that are built. Addressing it would help with one of our most pressing problems, namely high rental costs and a very low vacancy rate. Tying taxation more closely to services and facilities so out-of-city users pay a fairer share for those that benefit them should result in improved services and less duplication.

Municipalities would also benefit from measures to improve regional collaboration, such as reconciling the number of service commissions and a strengthened mandate. That would facilitate coordinating responses and negotiating with the province as a united front around items of larger scale and mutual interest, such as tourism, economic development, climate adaptation, immigration, and homelessness.

Ward 11

Jason LeJeune

I hope to see amalgamation of municipalities to create larger regions and tax bases. Would also be helpful to see redistribution of property taxes to increase municipal share.

David Wells

Responsible, effective amalgamation of municipalities and local service districts to provide the necessary tax-base to provide residents properly maintained, up-to-date infrastructure.

Louie Youssef

I’m not fully informed on all of the reforms the provincial government is proposing. I do believe that less government across New Brunswick would be better, even if that means reducing the number of councillors in Fredericton by half, or a quarter, and making them full time positions.

Ward 12

Kandise Brown

We need a new municipal-provincial partnership. The city is on the front lines but governs without the jurisdictional power or financing required to tackle issues like homelessness or the number of Frederictonians without a doctor. In terms of impacts to the city of Fredericton, some changes I would like to see are:

• equity in taxation, so that developments just outside the city limits are no longer incentivized
• a sustainable model for regional collaboration, especially given the apparent bias towards hub-model service delivery
• more power for municipalities to govern and address their unique situations

I’d like to see the province return the entire municipal property tax and share the cannabis excise tax. I’d like municipalities to be empowered to raise funds, incentivize developments and behaviours, and otherwise take the lead in making choices that impact our communities. Personally I believe all New Brunswickers must have elected representation.

Janet Moser

The Green Paper entitled “Working together for vibrant and sustainable communities”, released by the Province leads us to believe that additional time is required to come to a final consensus. I would recommend that, as the provincial capital city, Fredericton play a very active role in this consultation process. Following are my thoughts on a successful outcome:

• Increased revenue amounts to be returned to cities from municipal tax revenues.
• Limitation of service for Mayor and Council positions should be at three terms, with the exception being a council member who chooses to run for the mayoral position during or after three-term mandate.
• Streamlined and collaborative relationships fostered with federal and provincial governments.
• Greater recognition of the regional impacts made by our municipality
• Greater government recognition and financial support for tourism and cultural events hosted in the City of Fredericton as our Provincial Capital.

Mayoral Candidates

Corinne Hersey

• Homelessness:

Support and a partner role: I have worked with and volunteered with the organizations and agencies that work in this area… as do my students.  What I hear over and over is that the City of Fredericton just does not let them do their jobs.  Roadblocks are continuously put in their way from city planning or engineering – or council.  The city must be responsive to the challenges facing these organizations.  They know how to do their work: and need funding, services, relief, and a municipal champion to work with them.  Those I have spoken with say that does not exist.  In fact, putting a $125,000 piece of art in front of a homeless shelter, when no money has historically been given to this population is a slap in the face.

Homelessness is a devilishly complex issue and no one group can do it alone.  There needs to be more coordination within the sector.  I am pleased to say that those efforts are well underway on that front with Fredericton Homeless Shelters and The John Howard Society of Fredericton working in partnership with the Government of Canada to work with the various agencies to create the Coordinated Access System for Fredericton.  This and many other programs from a number of agencies are making things happen.

Recently, after a very bad start and incredible public pressure, the City did get behind the City Motel project.  This project with the active support from many partners, in a location that is ideal for this type of initiative is something I support.  As Mayor, I am going to work on developing a plan that will see the City take a more constructive role with the issue of homelessness.  For too long, the City has played a blame game and not accepted it role in helping to find solutions.  I believe there are agencies that do have the solutions and through some coordination we can change some lives.  It is, however, going to take more than just talk and, as a City, we are going to have to put some money on the table.  As your mayor that is what I will work toward.

The ’homeless’ could be you, me, a daughter, or son… They were born with talents that we all need for a complete city.  No one is a throw-away… and we have the agencies that can bring them back.

• Affordable Housing:

Leadership Role: The city has created its own housing crisis by continuing to implement, approve, and build high-end apartments and condos.  This has put up the price of housing so that seniors cannot afford to sell and move into an apartment, and students cannot afford to stay in Fredericton, even working two jobs.  The city has the ability to create affordable housing by ensuring 10% of all new development if affordable, and heritage buildings are retrofitted and restored for affordable housing and/or small business.  The city must also actively ‘look for’ and be proactive with the purchase of provincial, private, and commercial buildings that are on the market.  I am hearing that it is NOT the ‘developers’ or the ‘province’s’ restrictions and unwillingness that are the problems… and even if so, the city has the capacity to change it and should lead by a new vision for inclusivity and multi-socio-economic intergenerational housing.  It requires leadership that understands the needs of the people and knows the strengths in that type of community development.  I understand those needs and strengths.

Priorities:

• Reduce poverty by increasing disposable income.
• Inclusive planning to increase understanding and acceptance.
• Expand social services and community capacity.

Dedicated Housing Officer:

Yes, and that officer is from not from city hall, but from the field.  The money that is spent on reports and studies needs to be re-directed to the front-line.

Mike O’Brien

The NBEX development residential component is committed to providing 20% of new residential to be affordable (a combination of market entry purchase/rental rates, and possible social housing). This will add up to 200 such units into our market. The more new units added, the more the vacancy rate balances to a proper rate (which is approx 5%). Eliminating the “double tax” will also incentivize more developers to consider building new apartments. Again, more units, better balance. However, this is a provincial decision. Municipal Reform is necessary to allow the City to have authority to require larger developments to have inclusionary zoning – where “x” % of the overall development must be affordable. This would be a significant new tool to have. The City already waives most of the development fees for social Housing First developments, and for others such as Habitat for Humanity projects. This could be extended to new apartment complexes, if necessary. However, that alone would not be enough savings to entice most developers. The City can also ensure that development applications are processed as expeditiously as possible, as not to create any undue time thus financial barriers for developers. The Housing Needs Assessment study now underway, once complete, will provide data based information for staff/Council as we focus our attention on the greatest needs and/or gaps. The report will also assist in determining if a Housing Officer position is required, or something more significant.

Kate Rogers

Every resident of Fredericton deserves to have a home. Homeownership, rental units, low-cost, and supportive housing all contribute to creating a city that is more affordable for everyone. As our city grows, it is crucial that access to affordable housing and housing options grow along with it. Housing is a complex issue and the City must lead and convene the parties necessary to overcome the barriers standing in the way of providing inclusive and affordable housing.

The information that will be made available from the housing needs assessment must lead to the adoption of a housing strategy to inform action on how the City moves forward in all areas of housing. A Housing Specialist is required to ensure that future developments respond to what city residents need. This specialist would work with developers to promote various types of housing, and employ the local planning tools permitted by the Province to incentivize developers to build housing for everyone, so that all can afford to live in our city. They would also work with other levels of government and identify funding opportunities for non-profit housing to leverage dollars.

Ward 1

Dennis Atchison

NONE. It is up to the builders and business community to have a conscience. This is a spiritual question (and challenge), not a legal or policy challenge.  Given the current “enthusiasm” expressed by the Chamber. “Bring those Ontario and B. C. salaries to our communities…” (Daily Gleaner April 10 2021), it is clear there is no regard for the huge displacement currently in play for hundreds of families now unable to afford a home or rent due to sky-rocketing prices. The fact the Chamber sees this as the “good” is discouraging, to be polite.  There is little or no role any government can have in the face of this version of what is “good” for a community. The Chamber and its attitude actually adds to the problem of housing in Fredericton.

Karen Grant

The solution is not just about providing a place for people to live. The solution is providing access to services and support to the vulnerable population, which is the responsibility of the provincial government. The homelessness problem cannot be the sole responsibility of municipal government. Municipalities do not have the tax revenue to provide and manage this service. However, it has become a key issue in Fredericton and one of great concern to residents and it’s starting to feel like the city is “pushing this off to someone else” to take care of. Without starting another task force, it’s time that the City take the lead on this issue with other stakeholders such as the Downtown Clinic, Phoenix Learning Centre leadership and Fredericton Shelters and develop a proposal for a solution, and get buy in from our provincial government to support this solution. This is a priority and the residents of Fredericton do not care who is responsible for this, they want to see this taken care of.

We need to provide good, affordable housing options. The rental housing market right now is very expensive and many people are struggling to make ends meet. Working with property developers, the city can provide incentives for developing affordable housing units.  Working with the province, property developers can receive subsidies on housing.

The City of Fredericton also needs to have rooming houses for those that do not require a complete housing space. A rooming house that provides a private bedroom, and shared areas such as kitchen, lounge and bathroom.  These units need to be affordable and subsidy options through provincial and municipal government should be provided.

I realize that all of the above comes at a cost to the taxpayers, but these are required services and if tax dollars aren’t being spent on these initiatives specifically, they may be spent on additional policing, and court costs.

Margo Sheppard

The City should require a certain percentage of new multi-unit developments as ‘affordable.’ The building permit process should be the means by which this requirement is enacted. The City should further advocate for inclusionary zoning to be enabled through changes to the Local Governance Act. It should not wait until this is done to act. Affordable housing should be integrated with housing for other income brackets.

Ward 2

No responses received.

Ward 3

Anthea Plummer

We need to clearly designate what properties and areas within the City will be supported by the community and City Council for shelters or supportive living facilities. We can be better partners. Everyone needs somewhere to call home or to be safe. We all belong in this City and we all deserve shelter. Homelessness and affordable housing are at a crisis point. As a Council, we need to find ways to contribute to fixing this problem while still fulfilling our other responsibilities to the municipality.

Some form of rent control is likely needed if wages are not going to increase as quickly as housing costs do. The City cannot enforce a rent control, but the province can. We need to work with other municipalities and the province if we want to ensure that rents are affordable for lower income households. Decreasing or stunting property taxes for residential rental properties could be explored as one option for offsetting short-term loss for landlords. However, we need an exploratory committee to look at tangible solutions to this problem that include creative and multi-jurisdictional options.

I think a dedicated housing officer and a committee that supports that position would be a great idea.

Ward 4

Sheldon Currie

The municipality has a duty to help create access to services and accessible housing. Homelessness and Mental health in our City have taken a dramatic jump over the last 10 years. The City must not only petition the Province to provide services for mental health, I believe there are many things the City can & must do in response to homelessness, for example the tiny home subdivisions that is being done in Shediac for Veterans or in other Cities like Calgary these initiatives are helping people get a hand up.

Eric Price

We need an affordable housing staff member as Moncton does to work with developers and nonprofits to achieve housing for all of our citizens.

Jocelyn Pike

The appointment of a dedicated housing officer does seem to be a good idea from the outside.  I know that there has been a Mayors Task Force on Homelessness for the past few years, but I have yet to see what has been accomplished by that Task Force.  It very well could be that the Task Force has supplied a path forward to City Council but that it has not been implemented or is still being debated.  It is clear from my position on the outside looking in that homelessness needs to be addressed sooner, rather than later.  I tend to favour the use of the Victoria Health Center, as to the best of my knowledge, all facilities that I feel are needed, addiction services, mental health counseling and the community kitchen and emergency shelter are all in the area.

As far as affordable housing is concerned the City can address that with a complete revamping of the Municipal Plan.  In Ward 4 I have had an opportunity to look at and study the Union Street Municipal Plan and I have to say it seems to me that it get s ‘rubber stamp’ review but nothing is changed or updated at all.  Let’s have a real discussion and an actual review so we can make and adhere to a plan moving forward.

Ward 5

No responses received.

Ward 6

Maegen Black

Fredericton needs a dedicated housing officer to help city staff and council plan for and support more effective housing strategies. We must partner with the province, and develop our own creative solutions to increase the amount of affordable housing options available. A mix of rent control and stronger incentives/regulations for developments should be implemented. (Specifically, a requiring a percentage of affordable housing units be included in all new developments). Additionally, the city must take the need for and the development of drop-in centres and housing first programs seriously. Homelessness was a problem before COVID, and will be a problem after COVID, but right now? It is a crisis that requires immediate solutions. Fredericton is not alone in this challenge, but we must make strides to ensure our homeless population knows that THEY are not alone. Affordable housing requires a multi-pronged approach: to help mitigate and reduce homelessness, to ensure that enough (and affordable) rental units are available, and to help citizens invest in or stay in their own homes despite a skyrocketing housing bubble.

Ian LeTourneau

The city should play a pivotal role: the new council should lead the effort to address these issues by bringing the stakeholders from other levels of government and nonprofit sector together. The plans for the exhibition grounds present one opportunity to build some affordable housing, but council needs to offer incentives to developers through its policies and advocate to and work with the provincial and federal governments. I am all about building relationships and collaborating, so day 1 after being sworn in, I want to start building those relationship with local MLAs and our MP. Hiring a dedicated housing officer is an intriguing idea that warrants serious consideration; it’s also possible that the makeup of the new council will include some expertise that we can draw upon for these serious issues as well.

Sharon Levesque

While affordable housing and homelessness falls under both federal and provincial governments, a city cannot ignore the issue. The city therefore must be prepared to make funds available and partner with both levels of government. It is an issue that will not disappear because you ignore it. When city council is drafting its budget, it must include funding for projects to help alleviate this ongoing matter.

Housing officer- the salary and office paid to a housing officer would be better spent on incentives for developers to build affordable housing. A housing officer would be constrained by the lack of funds because it is a provincial responsibility.

Ward 7

No responses received.

Ward 8

Greg Ericson

The Province and our Cities should adopt the same framework for collaboration that is used to provide library services to our residents. Under this current framework for inter-jurisdictional collaboration, the Cities maintain the buildings and infrastructure required to support libraries and the Province provides operational funding to support the programming and staff required to provide library services. In this relationship each level of government contributes from a place of current expertise and appropriate financial capacity. This type of relationship, when addressed to the problems of affordable housing and homelessness, would see the Cities responsible for the buildings and infrastructure required to address the needs of their residents while the Province provides the operational funding, support services, and professional expertise to manage the needs of residents transitioning from income and housing insecurity to a more resilient and self-sufficient lifestyle. The municipal policies required to address affordable housing and homelessness in our community would need to include policies to address the many stakeholders that currently play a role in addressing housing and income insecurity in our community. This means the City needs policies to: channel Federal funding and expertise into our community’s efforts to address housing and income insecurity, collaborate with both the non-profit sector and the private sector development community so that their roles are complimentary and efficient efforts to achieve their contributions towards ending housing and income insecurity. And, yes, to help facilitate these complicated public policy outcomes from the many stakeholders in this area, the City most certainly does need a dedicated housing officer.

Scott Smith

A stronger leadership approach is clearly required to address these issues. The Victoria Health Centre can be used as a place to start negotiating with other levels of government and stakeholders to provide immediate solutions for the homeless. As mentioned above, increased powers from the province would go a long way in giving the city the ability to provide affordable housing as it would be able to provide better incentives to developers for mixed building.

Ward 9

Stephen Chase

What role should the municipality play in addressing affordable housing and homelessness? The City can identify appropriate zoning across the city to facilitate developers creating affordable housing. What specific municipal policies are needed? More flexible zoning. Does the City of Fredericton need a dedicated housing officer?  No, but staffing with responsibility to advise Council on housing needs and managing a “homelessness” strategy could be beneficial.

Ruth Breen

As I discussed in question 1, I do see the City playing a vital role in ending homelessness and making housing more affordable. All three levels of government need to build formal and informal relationships to ensure community-based solutions meet the need of every city or town across the province. We can look for models in other cities that have successfully addressed affordable housing and homelessness.

I have lived with the benefit of rent control. It allowed my family to live within a tight budget without fear of having to move due to exorbitant rent increases. I don’t think it is realistic in our present social environment to expect the rental market to respond to social needs. With two universities in our City, a remarkable City staff and dedicated housing advocates, we have many resources to draw on for suggested pilot or project developments. I believe all of these folks through the affordable housing committee can bring appropriate ideas to Council for consideration. That committee is best placed to recommend whether or not the City needs to employ a housing officer.

Ward 10

Alan Atkins

I feel the municipality needs to play a leading role in developing affordable housing for our city.  A position solely dedicated to this endeavour is a must.  The number of groups attempting to fix this situation is creating divisions in the entire “housing the homeless” movement.  This housing leader’s priorities should be set very early and should include as a first step, to bring all interested parties to the table and pool resources for the greater good.  Also, the provincial law for inclusionary zoning needs to be changed to allow the municipalities to coordinate with land developers to push for low cost housing for all in need.  Currently, (my memory only), a developer on George St. has been allocated a variant to include low cost housing within a new building.  This is how the city is doing business with developers until the provincial law in changed.  All developers are not on board because there is little incentive and less profit to include low housing in any new building.  Third, better regional cooperation is needed no what decisions come out of the Green paper consultations over the next months.

Cassandra Blackmore

I believe the City of Fredericton should play a strong role as a leader in our community in addressing affordable housing and homelessness. I believe we need to work with our nonprofit sector to fully understand their needs to create more supportive housing and affordable housing, and how the City of Fredericton can best support them. We also need to better understand what resources will be required so we can effectively advocate to the other levels of government and supply resources from within our own “toolbox”.

Some strategies and policies I believe may help develop more affordable housing and address homelessness in our city:

• Better use and promotion of the bonus incentive program; training sessions with key stakeholders to help promote the benefits of using this program
• Development of by-laws, high-standards and incentives for Single Room Occupancy developments
• Further development of incentives to build affordable housing; consultation with key stakeholders
• Selection of areas of our city that should be identified for affordable housing and supportive housing Developments
• The creation of a more efficient process for acquiring building permits for affordable housing and supportive housing developments
• The creation of a comprehensive, consistent process for community consultation for complex projects
• Hiring of a community advocate to help liaison nonprofits and other community groups, developers, city staff and council to better understand and coordinate solutions

A housing officer could be useful, depending on the responsibility of the role. With a vacancy at around 1%, we need to focus on building housing while helping those in need find housing; however, many of our nonprofit organizations are already working hard to match residents with suitable housing in the city and build supportive housing developments. We should work towards coordinating, supporting, and enhancing rather than replacing.

Kelly Murray

The city should take a leadership role in collaborations with governments, non-profits, and private sector partners to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives, as well as complementary elements like mental health and addictions support. We should communicate with partners so they know to anticipate city support, and we know what is needed. A dedicated housing officer would support this effort.

We should develop tools enabled by the Local Governance Act to incentivise affordable housing. We should implement zoning approaches such as the Single Room Occupancy format, which can improve capacity for housing precariously housed individuals. We should build on work of groups such as the Affordable Housing Committee and Community Action Group on Homelessness. We should also coordinate with other municipalities to develop a provincial response.

While we most need affordable housing and a mix of types, any new housing should improve our 1% vacancy rate so long as it represents a net increase in units. As that happens the rental market will become more competitive. Higher end developments can release older housing for more affordable or higher density living while preserving the tax base necessary to respond to homelessness. We should facilitate development that fits our neighbourhoods and development plans and character and other requirements.

Ward 11

Jason LeJeune

Municipality needs to be at the table with homeless serving organizations to better understand the issues and collaborate on community solutions. I believe tax incentives for affordable housing developments would help spur more units. Fredericton definitely needs a Housing Officer…this position should be coordinated to implement the findings of the Housing Needs Assessment which is currently underway.

David Wells

The cities role should be that of a partner with the other levels of government, putting to use our combined resources to solve the issues of housing and homelessness. One necessary policy would be mandating new housing developments provide a certain percentage of their units as affordable housing, while assuring the developers will properly maintain those units and properties. Having a dedicated housing officer would be a way to assure landlords do so via periodic audits, and they would also help advocate for tenants.

Louie Youssef

I think the municipality should promote affordable housing through incentives, not by committing money annually to housing projects. Annual financial commitments would leave less money for the daily operations budget. A specific policy that could be implemented is a property tax reduction for 25 years on any new affordable housing that is created by a developer. Property taxes comprise 18%-25% of rental costs, and the city’s tax rate is responsible for over half of the tax bill. If the city gave a reduction in property taxes in exchange for a developer charging 10% less than the average market rent, as reported by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (for the Fredericton area), I am sure more affordable housing would be built.

I believe homelessness needs a coordinated, per capita plan, between all three levels of government. This is the only way a city or region won’t be overwhelmed when it is providing more resources than others to help fight homlessness.

I don’t think the city needs a dedicated housing officer. I feel that city hall is well aware of the city’s housing situation, and is in a position to address any issues with proposed changes.

Ward 12

Kandise Brown

The current situation in Fredericton is complex:

1. The vacancy rate is extremely low for the current population. High demand correlates to high prices.
2. Housing prices are further stressed by extra-provincial buyers.
3. COVID-19 related supply issues have driven up the cost of building materials, driving up the cost of new units.
4. COVID-19 delayed construction on projects, reducing the number of new units.
5. The vacancy rate cannot support our current population, much less the number of immigrants we need to be sustainable.
6. The province has no enforcement mechanism to prevent staggering rate increases or renovictions.

There are also associated problems, like how neither the minimum wage nor the social assistance benefit come close to being a living wage in Fredericton.

I see the city working collaboratively with developers to introduce a variety of thoughtful housing stock forward, including single room occupancy dwellings, and using the tools at our disposal (such as density bonuses in exchange for guaranteed affordable units); support non-profits working in the housing space; support the community-oriented development of NBEX land; and act as advocate to the department of Social Development.  A dedicated housing officer would be a great investment in terms of thoughtfully handling this file.

Mayoral Candidates

Corinne Hersey

Inclusion:

• Developments that are focused on family-oriented communities, inclusive of new-to-Fredericton and those who have lived here over a period of time.
• Create green spaces and parks for playing and meeting people.
• Language classes that are informal and includes everyone from children to elders.
• Adopt a “No Wrong Door Policy” that coordinates community agencies so that whatever question is asked, the person is appropriately helped.

Employment:

• Ensure the city website is up to date on employment opportunities for new-to-Fredericton and ensure that the city increasingly resembles the community that it represents. An all-white city hall, police force, fire officers, … does not represent the people in this city.
• Ensure that all certifications, skills, and talents are used, whether the person is or is not a ‘citizen’ and whether their country-of-origin certifications are recognized. We cannot break any laws, but where-ever they can otherwise be included, and where they are willing and want to be included, the city should actively make space.

Programs:

• Continue to expand programs and fun times for children. Adapt more of UNESCO’s “Living Together” approach file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/CIMToolkitNewComers.pdf
• Work with International Students at the universities. They will tell you what is needed for them to come to the city and stay here.  They will also help develop programs in the languages they bring to the city and they will connect with new-to-Fredericton families.

Transit:

• Be responsive to their needs. You do not take out a bus stop in front of MCAF – one of the main resources.  This showed lack of empathy and understanding.  As mayor, I would ensure that stop would go back immediately.

Right to Vote:

I fully support the right for newcomers to vote. They are active in our communities, spend money, work, support programs and non-profits, volunteer, own businesses and integrate in every other way…  There is not one logical reason that they should not have voting rights.  If their right to vote is not recognized, we are not a democratic country and we are restricting them from the one most valuable act that allows their voice and increases inclusion – democratic citizenship and participation.

Mike O’Brien

We must assure the universities are complete integrated in all matters related to attracting newcomers. They are the portal for many, and once students are here, all efforts must be made to engrain them into community, and upon graduation, must be permitted to remain in New Brunswick. Federal programs now assist with this, but must be made permanent. The Atlantic  Provincial legislation should change to allow Permanent Residents to vote in municipal elections. They work here, own businesses, and pay taxes, but many feel isolated as they cannot vote. Let’s change this, and bring these thousands of residents into our city and provinces fabric. Also, barriers must be broken down to allow for more rapid recognition of newcomers professional credentials. Now, all of the above are not specific to the City, however, the City can certainly advocate and facilitate on all of these. As for City specific actions, I suggest a one year free bus pass for all newcomers, and free or very low cost one year recreational access – to welcome them and provide the option to move around the City and stay active. Another is to provide as much support as is possible/reasonable to MCAF to support newcomers as they settle into our City.

Kate Rogers

Making certain that our city is as welcoming and accepting as possible is critical. Workforce training, entrepreneurial and local market supports, and cultural programming are “stickiness” factors required for people to come and stay in our city.

There are a number of specific actions we can take to attract and retain newcomers. We require more diverse housing options to address the housing needs of people coming to our city. We must provide better transportation options so people don’t feel isolated and reevaluate/update transit schedules to reflect work realities. We need to provide opportunities for diverse recreational activities that appeal to people coming to our city from other countries/cultures/experiences. Most importantly, it is crucial that we foster social cohesion by actively listening to the needs of newcomers and supporting coordinated team efforts of community organizations who deliver programming critical to growing and retaining the number of new residents in Fredericton.

City Hall should be a leader in exemplifying welcoming, inclusive, and diverse practices and approaches by adopting an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Ward 1

Dennis Atchison

NONE. It is not up to the Municipal government. It is up to the culture of the community. Frederictonians have to stop being cold and angry towards “come-from-aways”.  Fredericton is clearly divided between those “born and raised” and those who moved here.

Karen Grant

Many of our newcomers are attracted to Fredericton because of our lifestyle and come here after buying, or to start, a business. Fredericton has a lot of international students that come here to study, and many stay here after graduation to work, or start their own business. We should encourage these international students to stay and continue their life here in Fredericton by providing supports that they may need.

Immigration Fredericton is comprised of several support organizations to help newcomers settle and transition into their new environment. These organizations provide services that newcomers need – help with settlement, language training, community support through a peer network. These

organizations should continue to be funded as they provide a lot of value. As a community, we must welcome newcomers, embrace their diversity and the vibrancy that they bring to our city, and showcase the success of these newcomer businesses. And most importantly, as a community, we must support these businesses, who pay taxes and support our local economy.

Margo Sheppard

The municipal government can act on its 5-Year Plan for Immigration, which has many good recommendations to attract and retain newcomers from a variety of locations. A dedicated housing officer as alluded to above would be a good investment because shelter is the number one concern of immigrant and refugee families moving to Fredericton. Better transit, free bus passes for newcomers for a time period, and matching new families with those who are more settled would go a long way.

Ward 2 

No responses received.

Ward 3 

Anthea Plummer

We need to work harder at self-promotion, as we do have a great city to live in.  While there are always things we can improve on, generally speaking, we have a great quality of life here. Fredericton has a healthy environment, a reasonable level of safety, accessibility to many sources of art, culture and recreation, and lots of educational options.

As a Council, we need to make sure we are supporting a welcoming and diverse city, promoting anti-discrimination and anti-racism.  If we overcome challenges, provide for our community, and work on building upon our strengths, we can further illustrate a thriving city of well-being. If we can attract more businesses/employers that offer wages above $20/hour, along with a good work-life balance, we would also attract newcomers. Where there are good jobs and a high standard of living, without fear of discrimination in daily life, and inclusion, people will want to be here.

Ward 4

Sheldon Currie

Lack of Canadian experience is among the barriers newcomers face in finding work. The Fredericton immigration strategy supported/lead by the Multicultural Association in partnership with

both the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce and Ignite Fredericton has made great inroads on this file. As a candidate for Ward 4, I would be remiss if I did not recognize many newcomers live in the ward, cultural diversity/engagement is a number one priority in my platform and my focus if elected would be to  a) embrace, recognize and foster employment opportunity with the largest single employer on the North Side  St. Mary’s First Nation who businesses currently employ 450 plus, b)  leverage the central business district and great work of Fredericton Business North in the once traditional “high street” of the former village of Nashwaaksis. Both great examples of integrating past, present and “ALL” people’s vision for the future in support of this strategy. Attracting & retaining Immigrants and expatriates go hand in hand as well.

Jocelyn Pike

Well it does seem that the COVID crisis has sent many folks from large cities to the west of us moving into our City. Not necessarily how we want to grow!!   We need to stop with the labeling of people – we are all humans – treat all with respect.  I want to protect and promote our green spaces and our heritage buildings and heritage locations.  We need to promote Arts and Culture.  The quality of life in Fredericton is second to none – we need to promote that lifestyle.  We need to maintain a safe and secure City.  While we all love our trail systems there are numerous concerns from citizens about being safe on the trails at night.  We need to work with our Police Force and give them the tools they need to ensure citizens feel safe in their neighborhoods.  With our aging population services for the elderly need to be enhanced.

Eric Price

We need municipal incentives for skilled workers and to continue our great partnership with Ignite Fredericton and the chamber.

Ward 5

No responses received.

Ward 6

Maegen Black

The city needs to work closely with experts in this field, who know the challenges and successes that newcomers to Fredericton experience every day. The Multicultural Association has undertaken some incredible programming, working with their regional and national counterparts to make a difference in the lives of newcomers before, during and after their arrival in the city. I believe the city should invest more in these services. We should take the initiative to strike a steering committee informed by stakeholders and citizens advisors alike to build an “attraction and retention strategy”. Building community and bringing people together for a shared future is an extremely worthy investment, one that shows the heart and soul of this community.

Ian LeTourneau

How do we attract and retain newcomers? We need to include them in the municipal government! A more active and thorough recruitment process for city committees and advisory boards is needed so at the end of the day we have governance structures that reflect the makeup of our community. By including newcomers in the decision-making process, we can shift our message to be “we just don’t want you to come here, we want you to be involved and help improve our community.” A specific action I can take, if elected, is actively work on engagement. Holding ward and community meetings, summer gatherings (street or block parties) for socializing and networking. The bottom line is we need to foster a sense of belonging and continue to find ways to engage and seek participation and input.

Sharon Levesque

Fredericton’s five-year strategy has many positive initiatives to encourage immigrants to locate here and stay. The strategy is relatively new and city council needs to give certain aspects of it a priority. For example, working with the universities to retain foreign students after their graduation.

Ward 7

No responses received.

Ward 8

Greg Ericson

Fredericton is at the very beginning of the process that could see it formally become one of Canada’s Inclusive Cities. This process requires the municipality to create and implement a detailed public inclusion plan. The steps required to develop this plan for Fredericton provide an excellent framework for engaging with all of the public partners and stakeholders interested in the attraction and retention of newcomers to our community.

Scott Smith

Fredericton needs to be seen as a vibrant, dynamic City that is open for business. More importantly we must retain our newcomers by including them into our community and through a competitive tax rate that allow their businesses to grow. Our City has witnessed success in attracting newcomers and it is important we continue following the best practice that have proven results. There is no doubt our newcomers help make Fredericton’s business community more competitive.

Ward 9

Stephen Chase

I believe Fredericton is doing well in attracting and keeping newcomers. We can always do better by ensuring the city is pleasant, safe and has the amenities that people want to experience.

Ruth Breen

As I mentioned while responding to question 1, addressing my three priorities will continue to build a city that attracts newcomers. Ensuring the housing market is able to respond to the needs of newcomers is fundamental to population and economic growth. Ensuring a strong relationship between the City and the Fredericton Multicultural Association is key to ensuring newcomers are welcome and receive the necessary City supports. Working to identify and eliminate systemic racism, focusing on anti-racism training within the City work force and wider community is a role the City must embark on. Fredericton also has the great advantage of Ignite Fredericton working to attract and support newcomers.

Ward 10

Alan Atkins

The Covid pandemic has stalled current immigration for newcomers to our province.  That being said, our newcomers need to be offered jobs or careers for them to stay in our city.  Housing and language training are top priorities for all when they arrive.  As they establish themselves in our community those priorities become more refined.  Providing mentorships with local business people becomes a priority because of the desire to work and not depend on local funding to live.  The city could also provide temporary work spaces for our newcomers to reach out to local businesses and make direct contact.  I believe many of our local business partners would prefer an opportunity to hire experienced newcomers.  I was personally involved when the first Syrian newcomers arrives in 2015/16.  I helped by driving them to local businesses to develop internships for potential long term work.  This also promotes/stimulates potential business purchases by newcomers in the future and creates continuous growth for local businesses.

Cassandra Blackmore

With an aging population provincially and federally, we are facing a critical situation in our city and immigration is vital to Fredericton’s success now and in the future; but in order to attract and retain newcomers, we need to build a Fredericton that welcomes newcomers and creates an environment that will help them thrive. We need to build equity and foster diversity. We need to build trust and strong societal bonds. To do this, first we need to understand the struggles new immigrants face and ensure they have an opportunity to participate in decision making.

To make this a reality, we need to lead by example. The City of Fredericton needs to make providing employment opportunities to new immigrants within municipal institutions a top priority. By doing this, the city will encourage businesses throughout Fredericton to do the same. We also need to involve immigrant communities in our government processes to ensure our strategies meet the needs of their communities. We need to create accessible, affordable housing, and we need to create community through events, infrastructure and services that are inclusive and diverse. Immigration is about people; if we don’t listen and assume that we understand newcomers’ needs and priorities, we will fail. They need to have a seat at the table.

Kelly Murray

Many of the things that make Fredericton attractive to newcomers are the same as make it attractive to any resident, namely that it is a great place to live and work. We should maintain and improve its welcoming environment, clean, safe neighbourhoods, a mix of housing options, social supports and services, transit and active transportation options, natural and public spaces, and business environment.

Measures specifically addressed to newcomers could include facilitating and supporting organizations that work with newcomers and racialized groups, retention, integration, and training programs, and inclusion initiatives. We should develop a strategy and an action plan to attract and retain newcomers. We should promote and support local businesses, including specifically those of newcomers. We should support extending voting in municipal elections to permanent residents who are not citizens.

Ward 11

Jason LeJeune

I believe access to housing across the spectrum and access to doctors are important. City should be working with community organizations to address both.

David Wells

Driving development of more housing, especially affordable units, and fostering and promoting the cities relationships with our diverse cultural associations and organisations.

Louie Youssef

This is a tough question to answer without talking to many newcomers, but as the son of immigrants, I have a few suggestions. The number one thing newcomers need are jobs. So by promoting investment in our beautiful city, we can create jobs. Jobs attract immigrants, not just from outside of the country, but also from within.

Immigrants also have a desire to feel some closeness to the place they’ve left, even though they want to belong to where they’ve arrived. This may mean having a cricket field, or other leisure resources not found in our city.

Immigrants, just like the rest of us, also value safe communities. I feel that it is very important to maintain, and even improve upon, the feeling of safety in our city.

Ward 12

Kandise Brown

• encourage thoughtful housing developments so that newcomers have a place to live
• advocate for placement of doctors and nurses so that newcomers have healthcare
• support the Lost Voices campaign so that newcomers have a vote
• invest in a variety of projects that impact quality of life for people across the socio-economic scale
• expanding basic services like transit
• strengthening partnerships with organizations

This one is up to Frederictonians: electing diverse voices to council.

Janet Moser

I have been engaged with immigration for nearly two decades, first with international student employment as career specialist and then for 10 years as the director of immigrant business services with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. Immigrants represent significant longterm benefits to our community; however, they face significant hurdles integrating into a new life here in Canada. Instead of asking the question how we attract newcomers, we should be asking instead, what are their needs, interests, how can we support having them feel like they are trusted, respected and belong. We should be looking at direct attraction that is in direct line with our employment and investment needs. This becomes a dialog with the Province of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and the Multicultural Association of Fredericton.

We need to engage at a City Hall level a leadership strategy that is authentic. In my years working in immigration, I have been very dismayed often by the lack of understanding of immigration and why our Federal and Provincial governments call it priority file. A City that takes an active interest and approach to immigration will engage and inspire newcomers and the results will be genuine and successful. I am also in full support of the Lost Votes campaign to allow permanent residents the right to vote at the municipal level of government.

Mayoral Candidates

Corinne Hersey

• City hall should ALWAYS put local ahead of outside purchasing. From donuts and coffee to multi-million $ tenders and purchases, “if local supplies it, we buy it.” City hall purchases first from local, then provincial, then out-of-province.
• Cut red tape – not just ribbons. Make doing business here easy.  I come from an entrepreneurial family.  My father, George Saunders, built Saunders Equipment Ltd., my sisters, brother, daughter, son, in-laws, nieces, and nephews are successful business owners… and our contacts and networks include business owners.  I often hear “city hall makes doing business in Fredericton very difficult.”  Just cut the red tape and instead encourage and support SMBs.
• Actively coordinate with post-secondary students through internships (now supported Federally), coops, volunteerism, community engagement and actively including them in all aspects of Fredericton’s entrepreneurial spirit. This goal is actively being worked on through Ignite Fredericton, Planet Hatch, and Pond-Deshpande – and we just increase those efforts by connecting with high schools and universities… to provide volunteers to businesses.  Win – win.
• Keep sidewalks clear, marked, easily accessible, and repaired. For those who are visually impaired, paint the outside of the sidewalk with a bright yellow line.  Many tell me they cannot shop downtown because of the rough sidewalks and their inability to see where the edge of the sidewalk and road meets when at an intersection.
• Like so many other cities have done, create a Pandemic Recovery Plan so SMB’s do not have to worry about shutting their doors, paying rent and taxes, and paying suppliers. The Federal and Provincial governments stepped up. Fredericton did not.  As your mayor, that would be a priority.
• I have spoken on creating pedestrian-owned business districts and neighborhoods (PODs). This would preserve heritage and create economic centers in each community – such as Barker’s Point, Devon, Nashwaaksis, Marysville. These northside communities have no economic autonomy and their tax dollars are filtered into other areas while their own suffers.  This has to stop and tax dollars must be more equitably distributed.
• Create a Business District Charter to ensure local businesses do not get run over by chain stores and have the first right for business development.
• Increase and drive traffic initiatives by including horticultural and the ideas of young people, and seniors, instilling community ownership.  This reduces the probability of break-ins and theft by beautifying and creating inclusive business neighborhoods.
• Shared parking costs: When someone makes a purchase from a local business and it is over the cost of a parking ticket, the ticket would be paid by city-hall. When someone shops and stays five minutes over their time, the cost of the ticket is not the same as if someone stays two hours over their time.  Integrate shopping incentives such as ‘staying in and shopping from the shopping district’ incentives.

Mike O’Brien

Providing great infrastructure is primary, such as good roads and sidewalks, parking, snow clearing, safe water, and trees/green spaces. This is what we do best, as it directly benefits business. This must remain a priority.

Bold and exciting tourism, sport tourism, cultural events and convention programs and supports are essential. These put “heads in beds” and drive retail and hospitality sectors sales, thus supporting growth and employment for both current residents and newcomers.

Driving out any red tape is important, but public safety and by-law enforcement are also crucial. Businesses and customers alike must know they are protected, 24/7, and that the premises are built and maintained to code and adhere to by-laws. These are in place to ensure business investments are protected and that all assets retain their value. 

Kate Rogers

The City plays a critical role in ensuring that the businesses we know and love are able to thrive. Various City departments engage with efforts to support local business. There must be intentional focus to ensure that there is alignment amongst departments so that the interaction with businesses is streamlined and productive. Support of innovative, forward-thinking projects leads to a positive, progressive city ready to seize opportunities. A bias to yes, best demonstrated recently by the City’s willingness to relax regulations for restaurant patios, portrays what can be accomplished when open to new opportunities.

To best support Fredericton’s business community, the City should be mindful to assist, promote, and facilitate but not to present unnecessary barriers. The need to consult and robustly dialogue with businesses directly and through the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Fredericton Inc. and Business Fredericton North, is key to a productive, mutually supportive relationship.

As Mayor, my focus will be to provide a guiding document to simplify the building and development process, to investigate how to provide recycling services to businesses, to celebrate innovative, green, and micro-businesses, and to offer ongoing support to local businesses through promotion and purchasing. 

Ward 1

Dennis Atchison

NONE. It is not the government’s job (provincial or municipal) to make sure business is “ok”. It is the government’s responsibility to protect and empower people. That’s all.

Karen Grant

When considering regulation changes, government (at all levels) needs to think about the effect on business. For example, the ban of single use plastic. This is a good initiative, but most businesses buy their supplies (plastic shopping bags) in advance, and are likely carrying a large inventory due to covid restrictive levels, so discarding them and replacing with another bag (reusable or paper) is going to be a cost to business. The City of Fredericton needs to communicate their plans to business with a defined timeline that is reasonable.

Our aging infrastructure needs to be upgraded on a rotating basis, and the annual construction season is fast approaching. Construction can be a huge cost to our businesses, specifically downtown. The City of Fredericton is doing a much better job of communicating their construction plan in advance so business and residents can prepare, but how does a business prepare for a street closure(s) which limits access to their business for three months or even longer? Let’s look at better route planning for access to those businesses that are affected. Can the construction zone be modified to limit the impact on the business? Can the construction day be lengthened or include weekends? Access to the businesses while the area is under construction needs to be well communicated through signage and online.

Margo Sheppard

It can do this by fostering a clean, safe place where people want to live and support local business. A City with access to cultural activities, intact heritage, a family-friendly place with a robust social scene is a place where people want to build businesses. Diversity in employment opportunities, strong education system, access to health care (strong doctor recruitment efforts) are all factors in businesses wanting to move here. Taxes will always be an issue; I believe municipal governments should avoid getting into bidding wars by offering relocating businesses tax breaks over long periods of time.

Ward 2

No responses received.

Ward 3

Anthea Plummer

While the City has done a number of initiatives over the years to encourage downtown shopping, new tech businesses, event-based business, etc., we can see that over the last year small businesses and large businesses alike have struggled under the pandemic.  Some business models are built around high traffic social events and interaction, tourism, conferences, and areas of commerce that are slow or stunted right now. We need to look at what is moving and how to adapt.

The City can better support businesses by listening to their experiences, asking what they need, and looking at how we can work together to adapt to current realities.

Ward 4

Sheldon Currie

Recognizing the existence of a municipal plan, I believe as a City we would be better served to separate and develop this as a stand alone item that introduces a long term strategic and robust economic growth plan which through investment :

• promotes & maximizes growth to grow Fredericton’s GDP
• attracts & retains talent
• makes Fredericton a better place to live & work; and
• aligns with economic develop.

Were possible cut the red tape and find ways to build business not slow its growth by taxation or other barriers, business is hard enough so when you add the weight of the City bureaucracy it makes new start up’s very difficult.

Jocelyn Pike

The Municipal Government needs to provide a clean safe City that has a quality of life that is second to none.  I really think we need to look to Natural Person Power (NPP).  Everything I understand about NPP would create administrative efficiencies and give municipalities more flexibility to deliver programs and services.  NPPs would allow for more freedom for the Municipality to consider new ways to provide programs and services.  The dependence on Legislative changes would go away.

We need to focus on our green spaces, our historical culture and celebrate our diversity.  Continue to be a leader in protecting and guiding our businesses out of this horrific COVID pandemic.  Support local.  Find ways to work with local businesses to prop them up during these rough times.

Eric Price

We can help businesses by keeping them well informed on all activities involving infrastructure repairs and by increasing population growth, improving public transit and trails and possibly waiving building permits for expansions.

Ward 5

No responses received.

Ward 6

Maegen Black

Improving the Fredericton e-zone would be a step in the right direction. I love the concept and am proud of this innovation, however, for a city with such a successful IT sector the service is spotty at best. The same goes for applying tech solutions to city services like the transit system, which needs significant improvement in user experience. Though these suggestions may seem a step away from a direct investment in the business environment, we need to practice what we preach and align municipal services with the level of functionality we expect from the businesses growing here, in partnership with the businesses growing here. We should be supporting this continued innovation and ensuring that digital developments take into account the hopes and dreams we have long held for the future: tackling climate change, sustainable development in agriculture and infrastructure, etc. We need to bring a creative, open perspective to the table to allow for true innovation that moves us forward, without leaving folks behind.

Ian LeTourneau

One way the municipal government can provide a good environment for business is by implementing the medium-term recommendations of the transit plan (the next council’s mandate fall within that timeline): Sunday service and an airport connection. First, many businesses operate on Sundays but there is no bus service for employees who wish to take public transit. Secondly, businesses rely on the airport and having a convenient and timely option will only help. Of course, Fredericton needs to keep being awesome and providing a great quality of life where businesses can thrive. A little more investment in the arts (a known and proven economic multiplier) wouldn’t hurt to spur more festivals, more tourism, and more economic activity.

Sharon Levesque

Council must realize it needs to invest in physical and human infrastructure to attract business. By human infrastructure, I mean affordable daycare, facilities such as gyms, pools, bike and walking trails. By doing this we are promoting a healthy lifestyle.

We can also promote the blessings of two highly rated universities and community colleges for further educational purposes. This can provide enhanced skill sets for those wishing to expand or relocate to our city.

Ward 7

No responses received.

Ward 8

Greg Ericson

The best environment for businesses in a municipality is one that is characterized by the stability of both the expenses and opportunities that businesses contend with in order to achieve their goals. The continued transparency, accountability, and efficiency of our local government is certainly required to meet this end, but also a high level of community communication and collaboration. Frequent and clear communication between the municipality and the representative business stakeholders and advocacy groups in our community is absolutely required to achieve a good environment for businesses. I believe we are extremely fortunate that the current relationship between our City and its Business Improvement Associations and its Chamber of Commerce are excellent. These relationships should be maintained and indeed strengthened over the next four years, so that each of these partners is aware of the challenges that we collectively face and understand the roles that each may play in successfully commercializing new opportunities.

Scott Smith

In much the same way as above, we must maintain a competitive tax rate and provide the infrastructure to attract business, allow them to thrive and expand. Particularly in terms of accessibility, either physical, like public transport and available parking, or virtual, like necessary internet connectivity. As a regional hub,  Fredericton can do more to build the spokes through providing that accessibility, promotion, and working better with our neighbouring communities.

Ward 9

Stephen Chase

I believe or award-winning downtown and the reasonable range of amenities (cultural, recreational and educational) for a small city make Fredericton attractive to business. Plus, our relatively low tax rate is an attraction.

Ruth Breen

I believe Fredericton has successfully created a positive business environment with its support for Ignite Fredericton. It has widespread opportunities for business development, support and training. The City should work more closely with the business community on road construction and repair scheduling. This can help minimize the negative impact these projects have had on businesses in the past. Ultimately, creating a vibrant community where people want to live and where newcomers want to put down roots is the best way to ensure a healthy business environment.

Ward 10

Alan Atkins

This an area that I am less familiar with.  Coming from education/government this was of course not a mandate for a teacher to be concerned with.  Effective and positive reviews in areas such as licences, permits and taxes would be a great first step in freeing up restrictions for both old and new businesses.  Zoning changes that are logical for an area that needs development would also create a more diverse business structure within our city.  Currently, making commercial space available on the bottom floor of apartment complexes is a great way of providing opportunities for both entrepreneurs and residents to create opportunities outside the downtown corridors  Areas such as loans and grants should be further explored.  A more transparent communication package and constant updates from the city would be a huge asset for business owners on both the north and south sides of our community for future planning purposes.

Cassandra Blackmore

I believe the best way to provide a good environment for businesses is by listening to the needs of our business community and creating better avenues for meaningful communication and consultation.

I also believe that we need to encourage more festivals & events that attract tourists and local spending. We need to encourage and support infrastructure projects like theatres, pools, markets and the like that bring people to our city. We need to promote and preserve the parts of our city that make Fredericton so unique and beautiful like our rich heritage and vibrant green spaces.

I believe we also need to create efficient, effective processes and regulations that make sense for our business community and benefit all members of our city. We need to ensure infrastructure projects that directly affect businesses are well-communicated, efficient and timely. We need to ensure we have sufficient means of transportation around our city by improving transit, supporting active transportation and developing more pedestrian walkways while providing adequate parking solutions so residents can easily purchase from our businesses. Lastly, we need a comprehensive flood plan to minimize the effects of flooding on our local businesses and Fredericton residents.

Kelly Murray

Again, many of the things that make a good business environment are the same things that attract people to the city and keep them here: a welcoming environment, clean, safe neighbourhoods, affordable housing, social supports and services, transit and active transportation options, natural and public spaces, and responsible fiscal management.

In addition, the city should be responsive to businesses and understand their needs. We should strengthen communication and simplify processes and services. We should be adaptable and flexible. We should promote businesses and tourism. We should facilitate events and support infrastructure that brings people to the city. We should engage in long-term planning around matters such as infrastructure, transit, climate mitigation, construction, and parking that impact businesses. 

Ward 11

Jason LeJeune

I think the municipal government needs to adopt a “bias to yes” when it comes to assisting business. Don’t create barriers to business and engage with organizations to address needs regarding Covid19 recovery.

David Wells

Growing our population will provide the best environment for business to prosper. Increasing housing stock is key to this, while also making Fredericton more inviting to move to by providing cultural and recreational infrastructure.

Louie Youssef

A big start in providing a good environment for business, is to make people who reach out to city hall feel extremely welcome. People should be made to feel that their inquiries are important, and that the city would be grateful for any business that they bring. I think that all too often when people go to city hall with ideas, roadblocks are put up instead of pathways to success. I believe that the Chamber of Commerce is more in touch with business needs and desires, and maybe a chamber member could be a councillor at large, or have a bigger role to play in a dedicated commerce committee, or something similar.

Ward 12

Kandise Brown

There are direct ways:

• having a bias towards yes in development
• promoting and celebrating businesses in tourism
• supporting mixed use developments that prevent commercial/residential silos
• buying and contracting local

Then indirect ways:

• transit that moves people around the city quickly and easily, and reduces traffic congestion
• housing people
• having comfortable places to walk and sit – the pandemic-inspired al fresco dining system last summer being a great example of giving people a new way to support businesses

I suspect businesses around the city would also love a break from summer construction, especially downtown.

Janet Moser

Having been raised in an entrepreneurial family and then owner/operator of my own retail business for over ten years I understand the need for SMEs to have the support of the City it does business in. If elected I will maintain my membership with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce in order to remain fully engaged with the pulse of the business community. I believe our City has work to do in eliminating long timelines of “red tape” procedural measures that stall business development and startup. Supporting our downtown and maintain merchants by creating more events and gathering opportunities will also drive more traffic, tourism and interest.

Mayoral Candidates 

Corinne Hersey

Performing Arts Centre:

I am one that would love to see the Playhouse just as it is… however, that is not possible.  Sometimes, we have to face reality whether we want to or do not.  The downtown, however, is losing any element of being our historic downtown and now that the expansion to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery will further move Fredericton from its historic appeal, I am concerned with the new style of the new centre.

I support a new Performing Arts Centre, but not the plan that has been shown.  The centre should represent the elements of the historic Playhouse and new Fredericton. As well, the people I speak with are very concerned about the cost and that the $43,000,000. Price tag will not even be close to the final build.

As mayor, I would suggest that the cost and the ‘vision’ be re-examined.  I suggest that for the current plan, the cost would be more to the tune of $80,000,000. and I do not see the province coming on board.  What then are the alternatives?  A different design? I cannot immediately give support to such a high cost, but I do support a new centre – as well as more access and support to community-based art.

Art and culture are critically important to Fredericton’s economic and tourism base.  We can increase that by having the centre open to teaching, training, and entertainment.  Fredericton already has some of the best performers in the world, and we have trained some of the best.  Fredericton also have many students who train in the performing arts.  We cannot ignore this important population who do not want to be an ‘entrepreneur’ or work in a mainstream industry.  The creativity and genius they bring to the city is as important is any other field.

Regional Pool:

Yes.  I fully support a new pool.  As mayor, I would encourage an Olympic-sized training pool and facility.  I see little logic in building a pool where our amazing athletes cannot train, and where Fredericton would be completely out of the running for any type of Olympic training events.

As mayor, I would also support an expansion of the Fredericton Aquatics Centre where our athletes can train for rowing.

Officer’s Square:

The systematic demolition and destruction, the disregard of community voices, and the cutting of trees under the cover of dawn pushed me to the point where I knew I had to run for mayor.  Every person on council voted to move ahead with the destruction… what they called Officer’s Square Revitalization Plan https://www.fredericton.ca/en/city-hall/plans-processes/officers-square-revitalization-plan.  We will live in a cement city and all of “Fredericton” will be gone.

We have already lost Officer’s Square, so the question is “What can we salvage?  What will it cost us because of signed contracts?  How do we redistribute the money that we will have to pay because of those contracts?  What can we bring back?  How can we make it the place the people want, and that the city, our children, and climate need?  As mayor, I would:

• Stop all further development.
• Give it back to the people.
• Mary’s First Nation: Their right to artifacts and ceremony is honoured.
• Capitalizing on the wants, desires, and skills of Fredericton people, ALL Fredericton people, regenerate the soil, and bring OS back to what it should and could be with rose gardens, small performing stage, benches, and historic elements that were and should be back.

NBEx:

Disregarding the many voices in the city that do not want any of the three plans city hall presented from the hired Calgary firm O2 and disregarding the indigenous and community voices of those who met with Mr. Vokey, Ex. Dir. NBEx, and disregarding the O’Dell sister’s condition to retain agriculture, the mayor and council have in their hands a new site development plan including deep and intense development which has not of yet been released to the public.

Fredericton exhibition (FREX) continues to occupy the site it has since 1877.  The Exhibition paid $1 per year to rent the grounds until Ella and Mary O’Dell gifted the grounds to the Agriculture Society No. 34 in 1924 “with the condition the property always be used for agriculture, entertainment, and the NBEx”

As mayor, this property would honour the agricultural and entertainment conditions while creating an intergenerational multi-socio-economic development community. Increasingly, cities that do not have this unique feature of horses, agricultural fair, entertainment, and racetracks in the middle of their city are now including as many of these components as possible.

Mike O’Brien

I am supportive of all of them, as is Council. The goal of Officers Square is to provide a space where community can gather 12 months/year, the events will support tourism and local businesses; all in a revitalized space that retains its full  respect for its Indigenous and historical significance. It will be a wonderful once compete. The new PAC is necessary as the current Playhouse is near life’s end. The Playhouse (soon to be PAC) is the heart and soul of our downtown, and the activity supports so many businesses and tourism efforts. It is also owned by the taxpayers/residents and as a part of public infrastructure, needs replacing just as water/sewer systems and roads/streets do. The Regional Aquatics Centre design will soon be underway, and a ground breaking may be in the not too distant future. It will assist in driving sports tourism, providing another way for our growing city to stay active and healthy, and will be yet another key asset as we attract new businesses and residents. I have been driving the NBEX revitalization for most of my council career. More residential development there is required to provide  a safety valve to counter the slow but relentless removal of downtown platt homes for apartment developments. It will also provide for a continued bright future for the 200 year old NBEX. It will also create an increased tax base to support all residents, and will create a unique new living zone, combining agricultural, fair & festival, and community living. An entire new commercial/hospitality sector may also grow up around this new area. How exciting!

Kate Rogers

I’m supportive of a new performing arts centre because it’s a much loved venue where  residents can experience live performances, its replacement is responsible asset management, it creates vibrancy, and serves as an economic driver. This project needs the right kind of leadership to be realized.

I’m supportive of a regional aquatic facility. There is a very active community group working on the project that will request funding from all levels of government and surrounding communities. Fredericton must be a major contributor to and driver of this facility that will benefit residents, support active lifestyles, and promote sport tourism.

We went overboard in our planning with Officers’ Square. It’s time to press pause and rethink the direction of this project. My hope is a revamped plan that respects the historic and cultural significance, maintains and enhances the green space, increases trees for shade, incorporates some sort of stage and a natural surface rink.

We have been presented three viable options of varying intensity. The NBEX Board of Directors is a partner in the development plans so, whatever is determined, will be done in partnership. Most importantly to me is that the development includes inclusive, affordable housing development.

Ward 1

Dennis Atchison

Watch my videos (you have to be on Facebook though) :

Capital Exhibition Centre – Agricultural Society #34

Homeless in Fredericton

The Heart and Soul of the Community (deals with all the other projects you list, but your question misses the point in my view)

Karen Grant

Performing Arts Centre: A vibrant arts and entertainment scene is important to many people thinking about moving to a new city. With a new performing arts centre, our city could host larger performances to bigger audiences which provides an economic benefit. In addition to hiring additional staff to operate the centre (resulting in increased employment), patrons attending an event often go out for dinner or drinks before or after an event, which directly benefits our hospitality sector.

A new pool for Fredericton has been a hot topic for the past few years, and, for people who are not swimmers, this is not a priority. I understand completely. Actually, if you are not a soccer, baseball, volleyball or hockey player, those venues aren’t a priority to you either. It’s important to think about this outside of just a place to swim, play field sports or ice sports. In addition to providing opportunities for active living, sports tourism is a growing industry which plays a big part in providing money to the local economy through hotel stays, restaurant dining and of course, shopping. Having facilities that not only local residents can enjoy, but the ability to host regional or national competitions, brings revenue into our city, helping our local businesses grow and thrive. The City of Fredericton has hosted many national competitions over the past few years including curling, baseball, soccer – at all levels – minor, university and senior. It’s important to think about the economic spinoffs of a sport tourism event. And, it’s an opportunity for the City to be profiled outside our region, with the end goal of attracting people to come to Fredericton to live, work or play.

Officers Square: This square is enjoyed year-round by residents and tourists. Officers Square is an important venue for tourism, especially in the summer months. When it’s not being enjoyed as a green space for people to relax and enjoy the beautiful river, it’s used for free outdoor concerts in the evenings and performances during the day. In the fall, it’s home to the annual Harvest Jazz & Blues festival which brings thousands to our downtown. This space contributes to the economy of our downtown as people frequent restaurants and downtown shops while they’re visiting Officers Square. It’s also located next to the historic garrison district which is home to a weekly night market, again, bringing people to our downtown core. With the possibility of new council members joining council, I would like to see a project review with some modifications to the proposed design. This project should be completed as soon as possible so we can all return to enjoying this space.

Exhibition Grounds: In reviewing the report from the first round of community engagement, the priority, according to this report, is a mixed-use space that includes affordable housing. I agree, this would be a great location to have dedicated affordable housing units, with close access to shopping, green space (Wilmot and Odell Park) and downtown.

Margo Sheppard

Without the specific information made available to current members of Council I will have to generalize in my responses. I support a pool at the proposed location adjacent to the Grant Harvey Centre, but question whether it could not be built at a lower cost than the $40M I am hearing. I support a new performing arts centre in a downtown location, but wonder if the price tag for that is supportable in a City of 60,000 (more if surrounding areas are included) given the dire need for helping the homeless, fixing the streets and doing other essential infrastructure maintenance.

Officers’ Square has been “revitalized” to promote occasional concerts and one week of Harvest Jazz and Blues. The opportunity to conserve, protect and restore our National Historic Site was squandered by the City and further modifications there should be halted. Planning for the Square needs to be taken out of the hands of those intent on modernizing this site and given over to those who recognize and value heritage. As for the NBEX grounds, some good ideas for indigenous uses of that land and features such as community gardens that were solicited early on in the project have been overlooked in favour of rapid development. I would prefer not to rush into a hastily drawn-up plan (by Calgary consultants) but rather see the City conduct real public engagement. The area, sitting as it does on the wellhead protection zone, needs careful consideration and planning that follows the precautionary principle. 

Ward 2

No responses received.

Ward 3

Anthea Plummer

I think the community has a voice and it is important to take their concerns seriously. I believe strongly in supporting our arts, culture, and recreation needs, as these are important for community wellness, enrichment and commerce. We should always protect and value our heritage properties, green spaces and sacred Indigenous lands. With this said, any new developments need to have community buy-in and support. If they don’t, more consultation is needed at the community level.  Officer Square is an example of a big problem that needs to go back to the community. The public pool and the performing art centre are incredibly involved and expensive projects with a great deal of benefit, if the community is supportive of them. The proposed changes to Exhibition grounds might need more conversation with the community, as some would like to see this become, at least in part, a community garden.

Ward 4

Sheldon Currie

• The development of a Performing Arts and Cultural Centre goes hand in hand with the introduction of a strong and robust economic development plan. Promoting Fredericton as the place to do business requires a multi-purposed facility to host both the performing arts and cultural gathering. In respect to a location that is central to the down town core, lodging, convention centre and parking my first thought is re-visit discussions with NBEX. Regardless any movement does need to be addressed and inclusive of a bilateral agreement with the Province and Federal Government to accomplish it.
• As part of my platform is enhanced access to sport for youth. This is a venue that appreciates the importance for both the health and wellness of the city’s population, but also serves those whose aspirations are to engage in a higher-level competition. In reviewing the current progress, the Cities commitment is contingent and both provincial/federal funding which I support, and the success of this initiative lends itself to promoting Fredericton as the place of choice when consider where to invest and live.
• Officer square debates have taken place and some hard lessons were hopefully recognized specific to real engagement and respect of cultural impacts at the front end of any project. The work should proceed accordingly, were plausible adjust in areas that have been raised as part of the expanded consultation and if all parties agree the archaeological exploration is complete, engage in conversations on plans to showcase the findings, of First Nations, French and British artifacts.
• Many opinions and city investment have been undertaken on the Exhibition Grounds and more engagement maybe needed to make a better determination. I am very cognizant of the Odell family’s donation of the land; their wishes are part of what I expect are archived records and as a city I believe any development must be inclusive of the family core principle as a gathering place for the community.

Jocelyn Pike

I support the new public pool.  The Sir Max Aitkin pool is nearing the end of its useful life.  We need to work with the Local Service Districts and the Provincial Government to ensure the pool is available and accessible to all and that it is supported financially by all.  I read a great report regarding the replacing of the playhouse – costly – but doable – we need to work on getting the other levels of government online for funding.  Officers Square just makes me sad.  I will work to try and save what is left of the square and restore what can be restored.  So much history.  The FREX Development from what limited knowledge I have at this point is in the early stages.  There is a cooperative group working on this project and a designer group has been engaged.  I support development for sure but it has to be in line with the values of the City.

Eric Price

I am excited for officers square, its going to be a wonderful success, I am certain of it!

I have no problem at all with a new playhouse or a pool. they will drive tourism and immigration, but we need help from our partners and we need to stay within the budgets! the re development of the frex ground is a win win for the city and the frex, I was honored to sit on that board.

Ward 5

No responses received.

Ward 6

Maegen Black

I am in support of the new public pool and the performing arts centre. These facilities are often seen only as “for fun” or “for sport”, but they do much more. The pool helps people to live healthy, active lives, giving seniors or folks recovering from injuries/surgery a place to safely practice low impact therapeutic exercise. The Playhouse is a social and economic pillar for Fredericton’s local population and tourism sector. Research shows that “94% of Canadians believe that arts and culture make a community a better place to live.” (Environics, 2017). “65% of businesses and skilled workers agree that a thriving arts and culture scene is a driving factor when considering relocation.” (Nanos, 2016). There are clear economic, health and community benefits to these projects. It may seem like a strange time to invest in this development – but there has never been a BETTER time so that when we open our doors again, we have the best and brightest attractions to draw residents and tourists back to a vibrant community.

When it comes to Officer’s Square and the Exhibition Grounds, I think we need to learn important lessons from Officers Square. Change is difficult, and though sometimes necessary, Council needs to be extremely thoughtful about what is needed, what is wanted, and what innovations we should invest in to bring the best of Fredericton forward. The final stages of the Officers Square project need an immediate re-think, and the Exhibition Grounds will be a tough project – one where much more community consultation needs to happen.

Ian LeTourneau

New Playhouse: the old building is at end of life and a new one is needed. The arts are essential to quality of life, and the jobs and economic spinoffs generated by the playhouse are substantial. Not to mention the economic stimulus of construction.

New Aquatic Centre: This is high on the list of community needs and must be built in a timely fashion. It encourages an active lifestyle, but also drives economic activity by hosting tournaments and events. And in the spirit of naming sporting facilities after hometown heroes like Willie O’Ree, Danny Grant, and Buster Harvey, can we name it after Marianne Limpert?

Officer’s Square: When I think of Officer’s Square, I think of the broadcast of the final Tragically Hip concert, and other such events that bring the community together. The square needs some upgrades (ie. a stage) to make more events like that possible but the new council needs to hit pause and rethink other portions of the development plan.

Exhibition Grounds: I like the scenario where the grounds are comprehensively developed because it maximizes the project principles set out by NBEX and the city: partnerships, community building, sustainability and inclusivity. Most importantly, since this is an archeologically sensitive area, a plan must be developed with First Nations before any work is begun.

Sharon Levesque

As a new candidate, I am not privy to the closed-door meetings where such projects are discussed at length.

• Performing Arts Centre — While I support a strong cultural presence, I feel I do not have enough information to decide. But if elected, I will review all data concerning the centre and make my decision.
• New pool — I support a new pool for the capital city. We can negotiate with the federal and provincial government to help fund this project. A capital city without its own pool can hurt sport tourism, the ability to attract new business etc. It’ s more than a pool. It can become part of our attraction. For older Frederictonians, and young ones, a city pool is extremely beneficial.
• Officer’s Square– The design approved by council does not reflect the voice of the public. This project has been become a hot topic at the door and I have yet to have a favourable response to the current design. We need to focus on hiring consultants, designers and planners who love our city and respect our heritage.
• Exhibition Grounds– My understanding is that phase 2 of project will take in November and therefore I will wait until details. I am pleased that there is public engagement on this project. I certainly want a suitable plan that will meet environmental concerns of the site.

Ward 7

No responses received.

Ward 8

Greg Ericson

There is no doubt that each of these projects represent significant pieces of public municipal infrastructure in Fredericton. All of these facilities have a long history of contributing to the exceptional quality of life that Fredericton offers to both its local and regional residents. And, while they each have their own unique history of contributing to our community, they are also each facing unique challenges as they strive to maintain their infrastructure and the services they offer to residents of our city and the region at large. It is essential for the municipality to support the many initiatives that are required to maintain these pieces of public infrastructure. I believe that this is best done by demonstrating proactive and collaborative public leadership among the stakeholder groups interested in the public ‘goods’ produced by each of the particular projects. Each of these projects should be developed with a deep understanding of the communities that they serve. Further, each of these projects should be developed with a strong financial foundation in order to provide for the resiliency of their infrastructure while financially leveraging both the public purse and the facilities’ user groups is such a way that they remain actively used and appropriately affordable to each group.

Scott Smith

As mentioned, the City should show leadership at the Regional level to secure proper funding for the Performing Arts Centre and Pool. I have significant concerns about the development at Officers Square and any loss of valuable heritage space. While work on the wall there was required, it is clear that there is outspoken opposition to the unrelated aspects of this development. Instead of spending the $1.4 Million to continue work that is so divisive, the City should spend such funds on trails and routes that connect our residents, like the College Hill – Skyline Active Connection (phase 1). The Exhibition Grounds offer an opportunity for trail connections and mixed residential development, however as much of the original mandate for this area being used as public space should be honoured as much as possible.

Ward 9

Stephen Chase

We need the reasonable range of cultural and recreational opportunities in our city, so I am supportive of new performing arts centre and pool provided the region participates with the City in construction and operations. Officers Square is a necessary public space that badly needed renovation. I am not fully supportive of some of the originally planned components. The FREX space is badly underutilized for lands in the city centre, so solutions need to be found.

Ruth Breen

I support the performing arts centre when developed with provincial and federal financial support. As mentioned in question 1, the pool is a priority for me and also requires participation from all levels of government. When canvassing, I am hearing from residents a strong aversion to the permanent rink at Officer’s Square. I am hearing the community wants a green space with historic values maintained. My goal on Council would be to move forward on this project in a way that builds community and leaves everyone feeling heard. The Exhibition Grounds provide an amazing opportunity for inner city growth. I hope any development continues to reflect the values of Frederictonians. That would be building community, providing affordable housing and maintaining the Fredericton Exhibition’s history and present role in our community. For all of these projects the key element is ensuring an open, listening and accountable City Council. That is far more important than my personal view on them, we need to listen to residents and then act on their behalf.

Ward 10

Alan Atkins

Performing Arts Centre – Yes.  This cannot be done alone.  All three governments must buy into this project al well as private donors and funding raising.

Public pool – Yes.  Again a must because of its use by all age groups.  Again money from all governments is a must for this project.

Officer’s Square – a qualified yes.  Some updates must be completed simply for safety concerns. Unfortunately the communication on this project was poor from the start.  The city has been back pedalling since the beginning of the project. Little transparency from the city’s communication personal continues to be poor.  Do we need an ice oval?  A stage?  There are other areas that the ice oval could be placed.

NBEX – So far the communication for this project has been below average.  This is a critical development for the city and one the could provide added property tax dollars for the municipality. Well field considerations must be followed to the letter, affordable housing must exist and a high density plan that fits the local demographics would be a priority.

Courthouse – A must and quickly.  They cannot stay in the Convention Centre forever.  The current Justice building is old and outdated with little hope of upgrades.  A definite priority!

Cassandra Blackmore

Performing Arts Centre

I am supportive of bringing this project over the finish line. It will be a great addition to Fredericton. It will build community, attract & retain newcomers and help boost our economy while creating a vibrant new hub for Fredericton arts & culture. I’m excited to see a space where community theatre groups, highschool groups and international groups can perform alongside each other in the same space.

Regional Aquatics Centre

Another important project that will be a great addition to our city. I am supportive of seeing this project through. Like a new performing arts centre, a new regional aquatics centre will help bring people into our city on a regular basis which will boost our economy. In addition, this new infrastructure will appeal to newcomers and will provide another space and opportunity to bring our community together.

Officer’s Square

This project has garnered a lot of public outcry for a variety of reasons; from losing greenspace, to the removal of old-growth trees, to the destruction of heritage to the inadequate consultation with First Nations communities, to name a few. The project is also ambitious and will require that this important part of our city cannot be used to its full potential for an extended period of time affecting many key festivals like the Harvest Jazz & Blues. From my consultations with the community and for these reasons, I believe the City of Fredericton should take a second look at this project to consider the concerns that have been raised by our residents and find a better way forward that is efficient, innovative and community-minded.

Exhibition Grounds

As a candidate for Ward 10, this project has special significance and potential for the residents in my area. This project has been a long time in the making and, if done in a thoughtful way, will be an excellent addition to our area. I am excited by the plans proposed by the consultants. I want to see an Exhibition Grounds focused on creating community: events, markets, festivals, community gardens, a field house, green space, and mixed housing. A place that brings the residents of the area together while providing much needed housing for our residents and more opportunities for our business community to grow.

Kelly Murray

All projects are important and should be completed. The Performing Arts Centre is a key element of a vibrant arts scene and driver of economic activity. The pool is an important resource and venue for sport. Both are regional assets that attract visitors and enhance residents’ quality of life. The plan for Officers’ Square should be revisited.

The Exhibition Grounds development should be one that complements the surrounding neighbourhood, includes a mix of housing types, public and green space, and meets some community and city needs. It should include a best practices affordable housing component. I’d like to see the Exhibition Association supported in developing a strategic plan for uses that honour the site’s heritage, provide a revenue stream, and are beneficial to the neighbourhood and city.

Ward 11

Jason LeJeune

The performing arts centre needs to be a top priority and focus of next council. It is past end of life and requires replacement. Officers Square needs to be paused and turned back to public consultation with stakeholders. Finish the wall to enable folks to return and redevelop a new plan. Public pool, stay the course to develop a tangible plan. NBEx development needs to be heavily engaged with public stakeholders beyond the 10 member board. We only have one chance to get it right.

David Wells

I am emphatically for the performing arts centre. It’s construction is critical to the health of our downtown businesses, as well as being a necessary part of our citizens cultural and social lives.

The aquatic centre, given all partners providing their portions of the funding, seems like a necessary piece to our municipal infrastructure.

Developing Officer’s Square into a multipurpose event space makes sense if we can maintain the heritage aspects in order to avoid losing a piece of our history.

Leveraging our under-utilised space is of enormous value to Fredericton’s future growth. Of the scenarios proposed so far for the FREX, given the shortage of available classroom space, A and B seem to be the most appropriate. Continued public engagement, combined with transparency, will be necessary for a truly successful outcome.

Louie Youssef

My position on The Playhouse is that the existing building should be renovated, if needed and possible. I am neutral on a new performing arts center without the required technical and financial documents. Also, I am not sure that a new performing arts center is the number one priority for the majority of residents.

I believe the city could use another pool, and that it enjoys more support than a new performing arts center. I don’t know what the best solution to developing a new pool is without seeing financial or technical documents. Whatever we do, it has to make good financial sense.

I believe what Officer’s Square needs more than anything is for more events to be hosted there. I think the location itself could be made more attractive with some minor upgrades. Maybe a promotion company could be hired to book events for the summer and fall months, and the outdoor rink remains in the winter.

I believe the Exhibition grounds deserve a very close look. I was at the first stakeholder meeting, and was very surprised to learn that the proceeds from the sale of any land development would be given to the FREX board. That doesn’t make any sense to me, as a taxpayer and as a resident. It also doesn’t make sense that the FREX gets to carry on business as usual without making any concessions of any kind that I could see. Whoever negotiated the deal on behalf of the FREX board must be a master negotiator.

Ward 12

Kandise Brown

I support a new performing arts centre and public pool both as community infrastructure to be enjoyed, and as economic drivers. I have a strong understanding of how the management of built and natural assets (everything from a pool to a tree) are integral to the fiscal and material health of the city. Fredericton is the capital city of New Brunswick and we should have that in mind when building useful, legacy infrastructure that meets the needs of its citizens.

Officers’ Square is unfortunately a lesson in poor communication. I believe the final plan to be a bold vision with some problematic elements. Since the decisions have already been made, I remain optimistic that the final product will win the hearts of residents and once again establish Officers’ Square as a place of solace downtown.

The Exhibition Grounds represent a great opportunity for downtown development. I support a mixed-use development that sees many different housing forms, outdoor spaces, trail connections, and integrated business/residential developments. I think the Ex Grounds represent a great opportunity for a modern and purpose-built social housing & healthcare facility with wrap-around services, as well as a fine location for a new downtown middle school.

Janet Moser

Performing Arts Center

It is unacceptable to me that a solution has not been found at this point. As the Capital City of NB, we must pay respects to the arts. In Fredericton we are incredibly proud of magnificent Beaverbrook Art Gallery, our arts and culture community and our historical plots. It stands to reason that we include a performing arts center to the mix. My only suggestion would be that we include private investment to lessen the burden of the taxpayers. So yes, absolutely I am in full support of the proposed Performing Arts Center.

Aquatic Center (new public pool)

I was extremely pleased to learn that council have approved spending for the planning and design of the pool, and I fully support it 100%! I feel that swimming is a life skill and that all children should be given the opportunity to learn to swim and be comfortable and safe in and around water. My only concern is the proposed location of the facility. I would like to see Fredericton follow the lead of cities such as Saint John and Halifax and construct the pool in a more centrally and accessible location such as the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds development.

Officer’s Square

I would strongly recommend a stall and review of Officer’s Square at this time. The greatest number of questions since I announced my campaign have been surrounding Officer’s Square. I am not convinced that the integrity and historic value of this wonderful downtown space is being taken under full consideration. The “City Square” has been the integral “heart” of cities for centuries and it must remain as such. I want to see trees, and flower beds, a removable stage and a place for all resident’s young and old to feel a part of, proud of and welcomed in. I feel we have taken a wrong direction in this regard and I do not support this project as it stands today.

Exhibition Grounds

I value the consultation process and will pay close attention to the results and the first draft of the concept. If consulted, here are my thoughts on this tremendous development site for our City.

• Preservation of the tradition of a gathering and entertainment place with a center square style development to include shops and cafés with an international feel celebrating the diversity of our community.
• Affordable residential development
• Site of new Aquatic Center
• City would purchase Cultural Centre and tear down the aging and unhealthy former YMCA building freeing up additional space for development. Then moving the Cultural Centre to a more dynamic and city central location in our downtown core with the financial support of the federal and provincial governments. The new center would bring a kaleidoscope of cultural and festive creativity to our downtown attracting more patrons to our local merchants.

Mayoral Candidates

Corinne Hersey

• Increase social inclusion and invest in people’s – all people’s – capabilities, talents, knowledge, skills, and life-experience.
• Implement CEDIF’s so that people can invest in business while at the same time using the benefit of their RRSP’s.
• Use every penny of Federal and Provincial money that is available to municipalities to forge stronger ties with business. Do some of the work for them…, particularly SMBs.
• Work with Pond Deshpande and other social entrepreneur visionaries such as CCED and IRP.
• Understand that businesses must now work within climate restoration and human justice lenses… (even electric vehicles are problematic)… and therefore, the city website should include links and information for entrepreneurs who want to move in that direction.
• Let businesses know that they can trust you – they can trust city hall to make ‘doing’ business easier.
• With businesses, create a strategy for an inclusive built environment – transportation, public spaces, natural systems, communications, safe sidewalks, and bike lanes, beautify and allow beautification of businesses.
• Ensure that tax dollars from businesses go back into those businesses – particularly the north side which has too-long been ignored.
• Work with universities to create small business incubator programs – share knowledge, resources, and technology.
• Know how to collaborate with small communities to increase their economic development capacity by capitalizing on their past strengths, present knowledge, and future capabilities.
• Do the simple – park benches, trees, small tables, washrooms,…
• Develop a way to exempt taxes in exchange for services from businesses.
• Be an advocate for local businesses. Be the hero.  Let them know you are there… listening and responding.

Mike O’Brien

The City’s new Growth Strategy provides a complete framework and prepares us for resilient growth and development over the next 25 years. To compliment this, it plans for more density, improved transit, commercial park developments, and a more vibrant and culturally active city. These are critical for attracting and retaining newcomers, businesses, and supporting existing businesses. We must advocate for Ignite Fredericton to be more actively invited and included in provincial economic development strategic planning. This is not always the case. Regardless of when and how Municipal Reform evolves, we much develop a more engaged and robust regional economic development strategy. We are more powerful with one larger voice and effort. To that, perhaps Ignite Fredericton rebrands to a more inclusive name. Also, the successful Ignite Vision 2020 strategy has expired, and a new forward plan is required and must begin as soon as possible. The 2020 Plan focused our community on growth and success – I am confident a new plan will do so once again.

Kate Rogers

Our city is growing, and with that growth comes the need to be increasingly intentional in our development. Inspiring inclusive and thoughtful developments that are forward-thinking, affordable and available to a wide range of residents is key for the city’s success.

I believe the City can be doing two things to best support development and economic growth. City Hall needs to clearly communicate our priorities and needs when it comes to development. Too often it’s a guessing game, especially around heritage properties and developments in specific areas. The City should be developing strategies and guidelines now so that businesses do not have to waste time guessing what we will approve. The City also needs to be a stronger and louder champion for all businesses across the city, including businesses in the St. Mary’s community and those being established by newcomers to Fredericton. Our city is home to so many innovative and creative companies doing great work and we must celebrate their success and support their efforts.

Ward 1

Dennis Atchison

NONE. Again, it is not the Municipal government’s responsibility to “support development and economic growth”. It is the government’s responsibility to protect and empower people. As well, there is no such thing as “growth”, there is only redistribution. If we paid more attention to the redistribution, we would have a more balanced community (and province) … and a happier one. But to get there we need to “let go” of this false perception of growth … there is no such thing as growth.

Karen Grant

With an aging population, we need to attract and keep our younger demographic here in Fredericton and make their life here. We need to provide opportunities for employment as well as provide the lifestyle that they want to enjoy. To provide the services that citizens want and deserve, our population needs to grow, which will provide a larger tax base.

Businesses thinking about coming to Fredericton, especially from outside of New Brunswick, are going to look at how city government does business with them. Is city government accessible? Are our bylaws clear and easy to adapt? Are regulations easy to navigate? We need to be business friendly. What services and amenities do we offer? What’s the housing market like? Transit?

It’s important to have First Nations engagement in new development. Our community needs to work together – both indigenous and non-indigenous – to provide a vibrant, accessible community that everyone can enjoy and be proud of.

A big factor in choosing to move to a new city is lifestyle. We are fortunate to have a great lifestyle in Fredericton with lots of green space for citizens and visitors to enjoy. Our river is beautiful and the trail network throughout the city is exceptional and accessible year round. Let’s promote this to those who are coming to visit, and those thinking about moving here. 

Margo Sheppard

Good infrastructure, a welcoming population and real democracy rendered by a transparent, accountable City Council are needed. Major developments that have potential to change the fundamental character of this City need serious public engagement and always need to bear in mind how they will impact our contributions to climate change and habitat loss. Economic growth at any cost is an imperative that has been imposed on us by our financial system; its down-sides are catching up with us in the form of climate change and biodiversity collapse. As such it is a principle that must be re-examined. Economic growth is fine as long as it enhances, rather than exploits, nature and follows a circular model of operation.

Ward 2

No responses received

Ward 3

Anthea Plummer

I would suggest that we incentivize whenever possible, promote, and build relationships.

We have a huge number of people graduating local colleges and universities each year, there are opportunities within our own City to offer a trained and educated workforce to new businesses who choose to open here.

We should also work with the province on their economic development plans, to ensure we are attracting new opportunities to our City that are aligned with the incentives they are offering.

Ward 4

Sheldon Currie

• Celebrate and promote our diversity
• Prioritize develop a standalone economic growth plan to attract and support growth our GDP taking full advantage of our capacity to educate and retain talent.
• Get out of the way of business! the fine folks responsible for economic development do a great job every day and that is testament by the current growth being seen everywhere in the City Fredericton is a safe, clean place to live and people across Canada want to live here, business people will with a clear plan recognize our leadership, smart-city initiatives and diverse culture .

Jocelyn Pike

The City needs to be actively engaged at all times, with the Federal and Provincial governments as well as engaged with our community.  I hear all too often that City Council will not engage with the citizens, that there is no accountability or transparency – that needs to change.  We need fair and honest representation.  We need to listen to the ideas of our citizens – we all have a vested interest in seeing the City grow and prosper.  12 Councilors around a table don’t have a monopoly on all the ideas.  We have so much talent and knowledge in this City of ours – we need to use it.  Why would we fill a Preservation Council Committee that has 11 positions with only 5?  Surely more diverse opinions will lead to more discussion and hopefully, better decisions.  Again, I have to refer back to NPP.  This, I feel, will make it much easier to move decisions into actions.

Eric Price

We need to have close relationships and regular meetings with developers to make it easier to develop in our city, not harder. This development will lead to immigration, jobs and economic growth.

Ward 5

No responses received.

Ward 6

Maegen Black

I believe that the best supports are people-oriented. By supporting job development and lifting up individuals and families – reducing their expenses and providing affordable services, we build a stronger community with more flexibility in their incomes, more disposable income and stronger buying power. At this time, there is no denying the impact of the pandemic on economic growth – we must work with all levels of government to ensure that people are protected so that development can continue.

Ian LeTourneau

We need a comprehensive Covid recovery plan, which includes convincing the provincial and federal governments to contribute to our new performing arts centre and our new regional aquatic centre. The new council needs to set recovery as a priority for the next four years because that is the best way to springboard the city into development and growth once everyone has been vaccinated and things return to a new normal. That new normal should include incentives to developers for affordable housing, building a strong relationship with provincial and federal partners, listening to acting on the needs of citizens and businesses. Fredericton is already a great place to live and provides great programs and services. We need to adapt to the new normal and continue to improve.

Sharon Levesque

We have stressed to Fredericton residents to support local businesses during this pandemic. Shop downtown, where many of the local retail stores have established. But we also need to support local engineering, consulting and high tech. companies that have made this city their home. We have talented firms here that can meet the high standards. Outside firms should be the last companies considered for city work. By doing so, city council is not only supporting businesses already here but attracting other companies to locate here and grow. We have asked, to residents to support local businesses during this pandemic –shop downtown where many of the local retail stores are established but we also need to support local engineering, consulting and high-tech companies that have made the city their home. We have talented firms here that can meet the high standards we want in city contracts. Such companies understand and know what works here and what does not. Toronto based firms should not be the first company considered for city work. By doing so, city council is not only supporting businesses already here but encouraging new companies to want to make Fredericton their corporate base.

Ward 7

No responses received.

Ward 8

Greg Ericson

Fredericton’s Growth Strategy and its other guiding Municipal Plan documents provide an excellent high-level framework for how development should proceed in our city. In addition to following the wisdom of these planning documents, it is essential that the City continue with its work to produce a Housing Needs Assessment to inform our policies and understanding of the local housing market and the housing reality of our residents. With this information in hand, the next challenge is to properly engage the various stakeholders in our community’s development ecosystem in order to understand their needs and the possible opportunities to collaborate towards the elimination of the barriers to sustainable development. This collaboration with the development community will no doubt take the form of cooperative political advocacy towards both the Provincial and Federal governments development and tax policies. The issue of the ‘Double Tax’ must be addressed!

Aside from addressing the challenges faced by the Development Community associated with housing, there is an important role for the City to play in the general growth and economic development of our business community. The City must continue to fund Ignite, the Fredericton region’s economic development agency, so that it can aggressively pursue opportunities for our regional business community. This includes supporting entrepreneurialism in all its forms and the other local institutions that are active in that economic development stream. It will also include continuing on with our excellent partnerships with our regional airport and the many communities that it serves. The development and improvement of our industrial park strategic plan must also be attended to so that its ability to serve the needs of the business community aligns with their needs. In addition to continuing the ongoing collaboration between our city and our business community, the City also has an opportunity to help develop the character of our local workforce. Developing our local cohort of workers is the responsibility of all levels of government, including the post-secondary education and skills training institutions in our city, and the City of Fredericton should be a loud voice at that table. This role as an ally through advocacy and public policy development for the business community should also serve as a model for creating better outcomes for business when considering how immigration and newcomer attraction and retention is concerned.

One of the opportunities for economic development that the City was made aware of at the start of the last governance mandate concerns our relationship with communities outside of our immediate region that are engaged in the natural resource development economy. In 2016 Dr. Herb Emery, the UNB Vaugh Chair in Economics, advised the Mayors and Councils of Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton that the single greatest opportunity for economic development in New Brunswick could be achieved if the Cities worked with smaller communities to increase their ability to attract and retain natural resource businesses in their communities. Dr. Emery’s advice is basically that the larger Cities in New Brunswick have a much larger capacity for economic policy development and land use planning and that sharing this expertise can help smaller communities increase their capacity to attract and retain businesses that harvest, manufacture, and distribute goods from our natural resources sector. I believe developing these relationships should be a high priority for our local economic development community. 

Scott Smith

As answered at the beginning: Fredericton must tackle the issues of homelessness and affordable housing in order to maintain population growth; we must capitalize on the advantage as the centre of a growing Region and ensure Fredericton is its economic hub; and through downward pressure on our tax rate, Fredericton can attract further residents and businesses.

Ward 9

Stephen Chase

I believe we have many key elements of supporting economic growth in place. Yes, we can do better and we depend on advice from organizations like the Chamber, DFI and BFN.

Ruth Breen

The continued relationship with Ignite Fredericton is our best place to begin. Economic development is an area where the City stepped out of its traditional roles and had success through its support for Ignite Fredericton. As mentioned in my previous answers, we cannot expect economic growth through immigration if we do not have the social and housing infrastructure to ensure newcomers arrive and remain in Fredericton, we need to work closely with the province on this file. The downtown core of Fredericton is a rare historic treasure. We can protect our heritage and leverage it for tourism. Tourism is a valuable asset for economic growth that we can continue to maximize by having all our City’s assets – past and present – represented in tourism promotions.

Ward 10

Alan Atkins

Transparent communication for city planners with a look to longer term goals is a must.  This includes in areas such as flooding mitigation, homeless issues, construction planning, increasing population density within the city and its corresponding infrastructure needs.  These issues and others must be communicated better to our business and residential communities.  Without effect planning clarity, we will see more of our businesses leave from both north and south cores and people will move to local LDS’s where the costs are cheaper and use of city facilities will continue on the city’s tab.

Cassandra Blackmore

I believe the best way to support development and economic growth in Fredericton is to continue to cultivate strong partnerships and collaboration with local economic development agencies like Ignite Fredericton and Community Business Development Corporation as well as provincial organizations like Opportunities NB. As someone that has personally gone through programs at CBDC and Planet Hatch, I know just how important these organizations are to helping entrepreneurs find the tools, resources and education they need to succeed.

We also need to continue to foster ties with local business hubs like the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Fredericton and Business Fredericton North.  Lastly, we need to seek out new partnership opportunities that foster diversity, equity and inclusion while creating economic growth.

In addition, we need to continue to invest in sectors that we have innate advantages in while leveraging our distinct benefits and boosting our key strengths. We need to think big picture and focus on strategies that are collaborative with other areas of New Brunswick while being adaptable to changing markets and conditions. Finally, we need to continue to encourage and support immigration and continue to expand opportunities for education, entrepreneurship and succession planning within our city.

Kelly Murray

We should nurture and develop the attributes that make Fredericton an attractive place to live and do business: a welcoming environment, clean, safe neighbourhoods, affordable housing, social supports and services, transit and active transportation options, natural and public spaces, a supportive business environment, and responsible fiscal management.

We should provide a predictable, streamlined development and business environment. We should develop clear standards around our built heritage and natural assets. We should develop climate mitigation and flood plans. We should continue partner grants and incentive programs for events, organizations, and institutions. We should continue to support innovation and business development initiatives such as Ignite Fredericton and various incubators and accelerators. We should form partnerships around services, events, and facilities. We should continue to support initiatives to drive immigration and retain people.

Ward 11

Jason LeJeune

The City needs to get better at attracting provincial and federal dollars for our infrastructure projects. Relationship building with these partners vis a vis an Intergovernmental relations committee that meets regularly. It’s also critical to maintain our low property tax rates on the residential and commercial side.

David Wells

Engaging with partners like the Chamber of Commerce to help provide vision, strengthening ties with provincial and federal government to provide support, and strategising with our academic institutions and private partners to foster the growth of our highly skilled workforce.

Louie Youssef

I think development and economic growth can be supported if the city goes after it, and makes the planning department more accessible to the inquiring parties. I think that the planning and development department should be pulled out of the basement of city hall, and placed in a bright, accessible, storefront location. It doesn’t feel welcoming in any way to any person when you go into that dark place, and walk through the maze, to get to your destination.

Once there, people should be made to feel that they are a customer. A customer is very important, and staff should do their best to encourage and help facilitate that customer’s desire to invest in our city. It doesn’t matter if it’s a homeowner looking to do a small renovation, or a developer looking to spend $30 million dollars in our community. There is excellent staff at city hall, with very good people in every department. But a focus on business and customer service could go a long way to help spur development and growth.

I feel like we are being outclassed by Moncton, and that we have the ability to achieve more than anyone could imagine.

Ward 12

Kandise Brown

(All of the above!) [Editor’s Note: this is in reference to the candidate’s other responses].

Janet Moser

• Positive outcomes from the municipal reform consultation should provide additional capacity for economic stability and growth.
• Population growth through international student retention as well as increased programming support for marginalized community members such as refugees and immigrants as well as educational programming for the homeless population with the support of federal and provincial partners with new innovative pilots launched by our economic development partners.
• Supporting and working cohesively with provincial partners on mental health care, senior care, and physician recruitment.
• We MUST become more attentive to the community in general, if we provide a safe, healthy environment for our “PEOPLE” they will not only come they will stay and be active and involved community members.
• Authenticity and transparent community engagement with an interested, keen and diverse council will drive our success for years to come.