GMCC CEO John Wishart, Riverview Mayor Ann Seamans, Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold, Dieppe Mayor Yvon Lapierre at the State of the Tri-Communities Breakfast, January 31st, 2019 / Dave Heintzman
It’s been a story of growth for Greater Moncton Area over the last year.
The mayors of Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview noted the success during their State of The Tri-Community addresses on Thursday.
All the growth didn’t come smoothly. Last year was “very challenging” from a social perspective, said Moncton Mayor, Dawn Arnold.
There has been progress made by local organizations at the forefront of the homelessness issue, but a lot more needs to be done.
Arnold said she’s “really tired of band-aids,” and wants to see made-in-Moncton solutions that tackle the roots of the “very complex” issue, which include addiction and mental health problems.
While still acknowledging the responsibility of other levels of government in solving the issue, “a lot of it is landing right on our doorstep. So we have to step up and we’re trying to figure out what that looks like,” she said to reporters after her address.
The Rising Tides Community Initiatives Inc., a non-profit launched at the end of last year to buy and turn old houses into affordable units, is one such solution.
“We know that shelters are not the answer. Everyone needs a place to live with wrap-around services necessary for a healthy and productive life,” she said.
In addition, Arnold said the city has increased RCMP presence downtown, and police are paired with by-law officers to patrol the area.
John Wishart, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Moncton, says growth is good, but homelessness and security are things that businesses are also very concerned about.
“We’re looking for the entire community to progress. If we’re lifting off in terms of these great [growth] numbers, that we take everyone with us,” he said. “And because we want our reputation as a community that you can live and invest in to be pristine and positive, I think we need to think about that the year ahead.”
With municipal elections set to take place May 11, Wishart said he’s not worried the momentum will be stalled if the mayors change.
“I think the sort of cooperation we’ve seen sort of transcends who is in office. The administrations are pretty closely aligned,” he said. “They still compete for some things, like which industrial park is somebody going to locate in, those sorts of things….but people don’t necessarily see the boundary lines when it comes to business. They see the region.”
Arnold will officially announce her bid for re-election Friday morning. But when asked by reporters whether she’s worried momentum could stall if the dynamics change if she’s not in office, she said, “I plan to be.”
So far, two other candidates have announced their bids – Erik Gingles, founder of the media company BuzzLocal, and Chad Peters, owner of communications firm Lynnwood Strategies.
Riverview Mayor Ann Seamans is also seeking a third term.
With files from Inda Intiar, a reporter with Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting partner.
