Premier Blaine Higgs speaks in the Legislature during Question Period on June 10h, 2020. (Image: Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick video capture)
Premier Blaine Higgs penned a letter supporting the Saint John region’s municipalities bringing their various economic development agencies under one roof.
The city would work with Rothesay, Quispamsis, Hampton, and Grand Bay-Westfield under the proposed plan.
This would bring a number of agencies under one roof, including Develop Saint John, Discover Saint John, Economic Development Greater Saint John and the city’s population growth department.
Saint John Mayor Don Darling says working together will help push the region in the right direction.
“What matters is that we’re delivering value to taxpayers, we’re growing, more jobs, more investment attraction, that our economy shows the right indicators, and our tax base is growing,” he said. “Without that, we can’t fund the services and create the communities that people want to live in.”
Next up, the various regions will vote on the plan at their respective council meetings.
Darling believes that bringing the neighbouring municipalities together is in everyone’s best interest.
“Everyone recognizes that if Saint John is strong, the region will be strong,” Darling said. “We’re all tied together, and it’s critically important that we have a strong city and a strong region.”
