Something like this is what I'd considered
major change for New Brunswick's oldest municipality and New Brunswick's first CMA... and I think the region would tremendously benefit from such major change in the long term.
I think the Saint John CMA is in much bigger need of a major shakeup and reorganization than either the Moncton or Fredericton CMAs. The City of Saint John desperately needs meaningful and comprehensive tax reform, but it also needs a new deal with its bedroom communities that brings about fairness.
Personally, I don't think Saint John will ever see true, comprehensive tax reform realized when so many politically and economically influential people in this province live in Saint John's bedroom communities. These people benefit from the current property tax system that doesn't allow Saint John to more fairly tax industrial and commercial properties, and doesn't allow Saint John to keep all of the industrial and commercial property tax revenue that is generated within the city's borders.
As as, I'm quite skeptical that the Holt government will
fully deliver on property tax reform as is needed for this city to flourish again. To me, her choice to name the
MLA for Quispamsis as the Minister of Local Government and Minister responsible for Service New Brunswick, didn't exactly scream "big changes to come" for tax reform or for better cooperation between Saint John and its bedroom communities... but you never know lol.
If they do actually deliver big on tax reform... then maybe, just maybe, they could actually could tackle regional amalgamation in New Brunswick's oldest city and metro region next.
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