Everyone is pretty clear on Saint John’s challenges, it’s old, it costs too much to run and we need more growth.
Wages and salaries made up 51 per cent of the 2017 operating budget and that number is expected to increase by 2.3 million dollars next year.
Mayor Don Darling also spoke about the strengths that set the Port city apart in his State of the City address.
He says we are well located with access to transporation links, talent and a diverse mix of business and generosity with leaders in health sciences, big data and energy.
Darling: He says location, talent, manufacturers and startups are some of our strengths. #sjstateofthecity
— CHSJ News (@chsjnews) July 6, 2017
Darling he gets to experience on a daily basis how generous, resilient and kind Saint Johners are adding he loves working hard to make a difference here and working with others who feel the same way.
The RBC housing affordability report from June says it remains much more affordable to own a home in Saint John than in any other major city in the country.
Darling noted that hundreds of jobs go unfilled and online lots of people questioned where these jobs are.
Darling noted the unfilled jobs during his speech and recently posted on Facebook about job openings in Saint John at a variety of companies including Cloud 5
Communications, Nordia and Air Canada.