As you prepare to cast your ballot in the upcoming municipal election on May 11, Saint John mayoral candidates are making their final pitches. Incumbent Mayor Donna Reardon and Councillor Barry Ogden recently took the stage at the Imperial Theatre to answer questions on homelessness, industrial taxes, and public safety. Candidate Blaine Harris missed the event due to health issues but shared his platform in a later interview.

The forum, hosted by the Human Development Council, highlighted clear divides in how the candidates plan to run the city. These are their positions on the issues impacting your daily life.

Tackling Homelessness and Housing

Housing remains a top priority for voters. Reardon defended the city approach to transitional housing. She addressed criticism over the small size of the units.

“We have been told that small little eight by eight units that we have provided are closets,” Reardon said. “But nobody is dying of frostbite on those.”

Ogden praised the current council for stepping up on housing but stressed the need for even distribution across the city. He wants to avoid creating isolated areas and encourage community interaction.

Harris prefers a housing first model. He wants to prioritize stable long term housing paired with wraparound support services to help people get back on their feet.

The Industrial Tax Debate

Candidates also clashed over how to handle industrial tax revenues. Ogden wants to fight the province to return these tax dollars to Saint John. He plans to use the money to lower your property taxes to match rates in Moncton and Fredericton.

Reardon takes a more patient approach. She wants to wait for the provincial tax reform process to finish. She noted that industrial tax revenue helps offset the dirt, noise, and road damage caused by heavy industry.

Harris pointed out a complication. He noted that keeping the industrial tax locally results in losing unconditional provincial grants for infrastructure. He wants to work with Service New Brunswick to find a balanced formula.

Public Safety and Police Reform

Public safety strategies showed another sharp contrast. Reardon highlighted how public opinion shifted from calls to defund the police in 2021 to demands for more public safety today. She wants the police commission to create a flexible mandate.

Ogden called for major reforms to the police commission. He criticized the recent spending of 31 million dollars without sufficient accountability. He plans to prioritize mental health services alongside stronger enforcement.

Harris also wants to reform the department. He plans to establish a council led police commission and direct more resources to emergency services like the Saint John Fire Department.

The Proposed Lorneville Data Centre

The Beacon AI data centre project in Lorneville drew mixed reactions. Reardon and Ogden are waiting for the results of an environmental review before taking a firm stance. Harris opposes the project entirely. He plans to review zoning bylaws to ban high impact industrial projects in the city.

You can read the original coverage of the forum on Your Saint John.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Saint John municipal election?

The province wide municipal elections take place on May 11.

Who is running for mayor in Saint John?

The candidates include incumbent Mayor Donna Reardon, Councillor Barry Ogden, and Blaine Harris.

What are the main issues in the election?

Voters and candidates are focused on homelessness, affordable housing, industrial tax reform, public safety, and proposed industrial projects like the Lorneville data centre.