Moncton council and members of the public heard from three provincial party leaders this week.
It was the first time a forum of this type was held before a provincial election.
“Every provincial or federal election in the past, we have met with the candidates, but a lot more informally, and the conversations were just kind of all over the place. So we as a council decided we needed to be much, much more strategic,” Mayor Dawn Arnold says.
Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs, Liberal leader Susan Holt and Green Party Leader David Coon, all agreed to attend, along with many of the local candidates.
“Many of the challenges that we are facing every single day in our community right now are provincial responsibilities. To hear all three leaders, David Coon, Susan Holt and Blaine Higgs, acknowledge that these are indeed provincial responsibilities and that they need to do better, was very reassuring to Council. We’ve been dealing with an awful lot, and I know people are angry and they’re frustrated, and they point to us constantly, but we only have so many levers that can affect change. We do not control social development, we do not control housing, we do not control health or mental health or addictions,” Arnold added.
She says it was great to be able to articulate to the leaders what the really big challenges are, in the city.
It was also an opportunity to educate the candidates, so they are aware of what their responsibilities are.
“So that whoever is sitting in those seats come October 22 they, they will know that what’s going on in our city and what their role is, and will know what we need,” Mayor Arnold stated.
