Quispamsis Mayoral Candidates Talk Airports, Regionalization

Voters in Quispamsis now have a better understanding of where their two mayoral candidates stand on a number of issues.

Gary Clark and Libby O’Hara took part in a mayoral forum Wednesday morning hosted by the Saint John Region Chamber.

The two candidates were asked questions on several topics, but it was amalgamation and regionalization which came up most often.

“At this point in time, I don’t think amalgamation is on the table. I don’t want to see it on the table. I want to see, right at this point in time, what we can do on a regional basis,” O’Hara said.

“I think we have a lot to offer one another. If we put one umbrella over the entire region, I think we’re going to miss out on some of the nuances that every community has to offer.”

O’Hara noted the town currently shares police, fire and library services with Rothesay and questioned what it would look like if it was stretched over a greater region.

Clark also expressed his opposition to amalgamation and agreed that regional cooperation with neighbouring communities is “far more important.”

“Let’s be clear, the former mayors, myself included, with the outlying areas, we have been working very closely together,” said Clark. “I want to continue doing that with the mayors in the outlying areas.”

Airports

Both candidates were also asked for their thoughts on maintaining New Brunswick’s three airports or having just one regional airport.

The topic has come up for discussion again in recent months after all commercial flights to and from Saint John and Fredericton were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Clark said he would be willing to work with the province in trying to keep the Saint John Airport here and make it viable in the future.

“In other provinces, people have to drive an hour or two hours to an airport,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate here to have an airport in our backyard.”

O’Hara said it is important to create a resilient and financially viable province and we need to ensure the Saint John region is strong — whether that is having three smaller airports or one larger airport outside of the city.

“We need to be open to discussion, we need to do what is best for the region, and this is where the critical turning point is,” she said. “For so long, we’ve lived in silos where we’ve wanted to develop our own little area. Those days are passed.”

Housing

O’Hara and Clark were also asked for their thoughts on the current housing situation in Quispamsis.

Clark said there is a shortage of housing in the town, including affordable housing, and it is something they have been working to address.

“We have worked very hard in the town over a number of years to bring more municipal water to the area so we can have these developments,” he said. “Moving forward, it is important to work with staff and our council to develop more affordable housing in the town.”

O’Hara said some of those needs are being met, pointing to the addition of more apartment buildings in the town.

“The need was there,” she said. “The developers have looked to see what are the needs, what is the demographic that wants to move into apartment-style living.”

Over the past year, O’Hara said she has spoken to at least six developers who are interested in working with the town on developing housing stock at various levels.

Both candidates agreed that it is important to constantly look at the town’s water and wastewater infrastructure system to ensure they are ready for future development.

Wash 66

The two mayoral candidates were also asked one question from the audience about the controversial Wash 66 on Pettingill Road.

Council initially denied owner Jeff Sheppard’s request to use well water for the car wash rather than continuing to truck in water.

But after Sheppard threatened legal action against the town, council revisited the decision and approved an amended developer’s agreement.

Residents living near the car wash repeatedly raised concerns about the impact the change would have on their water supply.

“Myself and council have done their due diligence in working with the town staff on this folder over the number of years,” said Clark.

“The studies were done, the proof was there that there was ample supply of water for Wash 66.”

But O’Hara stood by her decision Wednesday to vote against the change.

“I voted against it then, I would vote against it now,” she said.

“Yes, there’s enough water there to sustain the residential area, but when you have a business that continually pumps out 50,000 litres of drinking water a day, that’s a lot of water.”

You can watch the full mayoral forum below.