Mayor Reflects On 2022, Looks Ahead To 2023

Saint John’s mayor is reflecting on what she describes as a fantastic year for the city.

In a year-end interview, Donna Reardon looked back at some of the highlights of 2022.

Topping her list was the Memorial Cup tournament in June, which saw the Saint John Sea Dogs clinch the national junior hockey title.

“It really did put Saint John on the map for events. It was great for community-building among the region,” Reardon said in the interview.

Reardon also pointed to the launch of the Area 506 Waterfront Container Village, the return of cruise ships to the Port City, and news of the location of a new school in the south-central peninsula.

In addition, the mayor said it was exciting to the ongoing work at Fundy Quay, the launch of a new immigration strategy, and the council’s decision to lower the residential tax rate by nine cents.

“People tell me there’s a positive vibe in this city, and I want to keep that ball rolling,” she said.

But despite the accomplishments and highlights of the past year, Reardon said the city also faced numerous challenges.

Homelessness and affordable housing are challenges being faced by municipalities across the country, she said.

Saint John has taken steps to help address the situation, such as developing an affordable housing action plan and working with the Salvation Army to open an out-of-the-cold shelter at the former Hilton Belyea Arena.

Reardon said she believes real estate investment trusts, or REITs, are working against governments as they try to provide housing for people.

“That’s a whole other game where you have these large conglomerates buying up housing and investors who are all making money on the back of renters,” she said.

“If housing is a human right, I don’t see how those two scenarios can live together in a society because it doesn’t work.”

Reardon said trying to address homelessness is also difficult for the city since it has traditionally been a provincial responsibility.

She said the city would be happy to take it on, provided the province also contribute funding to help out.

“We’re in the trenches. People want to see the city trying to help somehow. We’ve taken on some of that responsibility to do it,” said Reardon.

“It is difficult now to get some of that done because you’re trying to run a city but you’re also trying to provide this social component that the province has claimed as theirs and is collecting from us 45 per cent of taxes from business, commercial, and heavy industry.”

Reardon said recent changes made to the city’s garbage and recycling collection program have also proven to be a challenge.

Curbside recycling rolled out to around 22,000 households across the city in late October, which meant the elimination of community blue bins set up throughout the city.

Along with the changes to recycling come new limits on how much garbage residents can place at the curb.

“The initial week, we had a lot of calls on it. I would say I get now more positive feedback on it,” said Reardon.

“Does it need work? Absolutely. But it is one of the biggest changes in how we deliver services in a generation.”

Looking ahead to 2023, Reardon said she is looking forward to seeing work continue on the Fundy Quay development and hopes a request for proposals will be issued for the new south-central peninsula school.

“I think we’ll see some other big projects coming forward as well,” she said.