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Originally Posted by sailor734
Interesting to note Halifax is an outlier in that it's "city" population and CMA are virtually the same. NB 's 3 cities are only about 60% or so of their CMA. Seems like amalgamation is still a touchy subject in NB.
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Let’s see if amalgamation is still a touchy subject after the Holt government delivers on tax reform. One the “touchiest” reasons why the outlying communities don’t want amalgamation has to do with tax rates, especially here in the Saint John region. Fixing the tax system could really help bring about the “winning conditions” needed to bring on amalgamation in Greater Saint John, Greater Fredericton, and Greater Moncton.
If the Holt government delivers on tax reform, municipalities could tax industry at a more fair rate, and lower tax rates on residential properties. In the wake of successful tax reform, an amalgamated Saint John Regional Municipality could have a lower tax rate than Rothesay has today, which is currently the municipality with the lowest tax rate in the region.
Still think if amalgamation is to happen for the Saint John Region, a new name should be picked, while the constituent communities retain their names, just like is the case in the HRM.