Discussions On Saint John’s Financial Future Still Ongoing

Jeff Carr, Minister of Local Government, was in Saint John Wednesday to discuss Saint John’s financial future with stakeholders.

This comes after city council voted to table the recent financial sustainability report to allow for more in depth review.

Many councillors feel as if the three part action plan doesn’t provide enough substantial help to reserve Saint John’s debt.

Carr says he hears their concerns, and wants to work together.

“The items in the action plan that are strong, maybe we need to tweak them a little bit. That’s why we’re having the discussions with different members of council, with city staff, with our staff, because we think this is way too important to let fall off the table,” he said.

Carr says his staff has working closely with the city to change wording and validate some numbers in an effort to qualm their concerns around the report.

He notes the items in the action plan have implications for the entire province, not just Saint John.

“That’s why when we did our changes to the accommodation levy, it was a province-wide thing for all municipalities that would benefit Saint John specifically as well, so that we weren’t picking winners and loses but at the same time, helping Saint John,” he said.

“I still believe that the plan we’ve put forward, the action plan with the items, will not only benefit the city of Saint John and the region, but the province as a whole.”

He says he also understands the city’s desire for heavy industry tax reform, but changing legislation takes time and comes with its own hurdles.

Carr says he has not set a date to meet with Mayor Don Darling to discuss some of his concerns, but hopes to sit down with him in the next week.

“There’s no hard feelings between him and I. We both have a job to do and both of our goals are the same. Let’s champion Saint John, let’s champion the province of New Brunswick, and I still contend with a little short term pain going forward, there’s some long term gain.”