Municipal Leaders React To TD Station Proposal

Municipal leaders in the Saint John region say they are not surprised the city is looking to sell or lease TD Station.

On Monday, the city issued a request for expressions of interest in the purchase or lease of the events facility.

Matt Alexander, the deputy mayor of Rothesay, said he knows everything is on the table as Saint John tried to cut costs.

“Private industry always is looking for new opportunities and there might be a private operator that could actually put together a plan where they could see that they could make money on the facility,” said Alexander.

Finding a private operator for TD Station was one of the initiatives presented to Common Council in 2019 as it seeks to solve the city’s fiscal challenges.

The city recently adopted a restructuring plan that includes a review of the operations of city-owned facilities like TD Station. The goal is to reduce the city’s overall financial commitments to these facilities.

Alexander said they want to make sure TD Station continues to serve as a regional facility.

“We’re just waiting to see if there is any interest and what it would mean to us in the long-term, so what does it mean to Rothesay and to the other communities that are part of the Regional Facilities Commission,” he said.

Gary Clark, the mayor of Quispamsis, said he thinks it could be a worthwhile venture if an operator can be found.

“If the city finds an operator to take over management and control of the building, its expenses would be reduced and presumably so should ours,” said Clark.

Quispamsis is contributing more than $610,000 to the five regional facilities — TD Station, the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Imperial Theatre, the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, and the Saint John Arts Centre — this year alone, he said.

Clark said it is his understanding TD Station is not the only facility the city is looking at leasing or selling.

“The Canada Games Aquatic Centre will be the city’s next municipal asset undergoing a similar process,” he said.

The mayor of Grand Bay-Westfield was unavailable for an interview Tuesday, but in an emailed statement, Grace Losier said Saint John’s mayor informed her of the city’s intention for TD Station last week.

With files from Huddle Staff.