David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks Higgy and his RCMP cohorts ain't laughing about his spindoctor joking about GNB denying me the right to Medicare N"esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/05/minister-sides-with-suburbs-in.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/municipal-budget-costs-sustainability-province-property-tax-industry-1.5556712
Minister sides with suburbs in rejecting Saint John proposals for sharing
City needs to rein in expenses, says Local Government Minister Jeff Carr
· CBC News · Posted: May 06, 2020 9:00 AM AT
Local Government Minister Jeff Carr says the province won't be turning over $8 million in tax revenue from industry. (CBC)
Local Government Minister Jeff Carr says Saint John has to make some tough decisions before the city's neighbours will be ready to talk more about sharing costs.
"The message is clear from the outlying areas," said Carr. "They want to help, they want to continue to partner but they have to see a little movement by Saint John council."
Carr's comments to CBC News came the day after the minister sent a letter to city council in response to a long-term sustainability plan released by the city.
Among other things, the plan proposes a levy on the property tax bills in outlying communities that would increase the amount of assistance the city's neighbours now provide, and to offset costs incurred by Saint John as a regional hub.
We can no longer continue to pick winners and losers so everybody has to be treated fairly in that regard.- Jeff Carr, local government minister
But the minister wrote he would not reconvene a regional management task force that had been looking into cost-sharing with Saint John until the city "has demonstrated substantial and measurable progress" on sustainability.
As part of an "action plan" for Saint John jointly released by the city and province in July 2019, the provincial government paid for an operational review of city operations by consultants Ernst and Young.
It identified $25 million — $35 million in what it described as opportunities for the city to save costs or generate new revenue.
"There are millions and millions and millions of dollars identified by Ernst and Young in the report," said Carr. "So there's lots of opportunities there that the city can take, as well as having a look at their expenses they've raised over the last three years."
The proposals in the consultant's report include major reorganizations and cuts in areas such as the Fire Department, where it suggests 32 to 40 firefighter positions could be eliminated along with the closing of a fire station and the retiring of two engines and two tankers.
It suggests 20 per cent of the police department's patrol strength could be converted into civilian jobs and identifies further potential job reductions at Saint John Water and at Public Works and Recreation.
The Ernst and Young report suggests 20 percent of the Saint John Police Department's patrol strength could be converted to civilian jobs. (CBC
The city is also asking the province for fundamental changes to the property tax system, particularly where heavy industry is concerned.As an interim measure the municipality is hoping the province will turn over its portion of the tax collected from Saint John industries — about $8 million annually — until those reforms are introduced in 2022.
But Carr is clear the province won't be handing over the industrial tax revenue in advance of the reforms.
"If we hand over industrial tax to one city, why wouldn't we hand it over to all? We can no longer continue to pick winners and losers so everybody has to be treated fairly in that regard," said the minister.
Saint John councillor David Hickey. 'The city has met all of our requirements.' (@davidhickeynb Twitter)
On Monday night, city council approved a series of measures to trim costs by $10 million in 2021 and 2022 by cutting six million from workforce costs, closing a rink, raising fees and cutting back on other services, such lawn mowing and flower planting.
Saint John councillor David Hickey described Carr's response as "disheartening."
"We can't pretend, I think, that this was a case of Saint John missing deadlines or not taking significant steps to restructure because based on the plan that both the province and the city agreed to in our sustainability plan, the city has met all of our requirements," said Hickey.
About the Author
42 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks Higgy et al know why I am enjoying this circus N'esy Pas?
Brian
Robertson
Reply to @David Amos:
David; what makes you think the Premier and his inner circle give you any thought at all?
David; what makes you think the Premier and his inner circle give you any thought at all?
Rick Grayson
Reply to @Brian Robertson: @davidamos probably suffers from delusions of grandeur "methinks and N'esy pas" so odd..
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Brian
Robertson: And they equally enjoy not giving him Medicare and laughing
at his s c h i z o harrassment towards them that consumes his life, of
which they don't for a second entertain. He's THE water cooler joke at
break time.
David Amos
Reply to @Brian
Robertson: Why do you call me by my first name do I know you? Why not
ask your buddy Higgy and his cohorts why they sent me Tim's cupcakes in
the mail with a signed note before the last election if I were not on
their mind? Methinks it was odd that they whine and cry to me for
donations to buy butter tarts yet had money to squander on a mindless
insult N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks even your buddy Higgy and his RCMP cohorts ain't laughing about you joking about GNB denying me the right to Medicare N"esy Pas?
Shawn Tabor
Their union made this mess, now union can fix their mess. If Moncton or Freddy gets into trouble are we going to get taxed again to fix their cities mess. Almost like today’s paper, Higgs want to work on a farm but all he wants to do is drive the tractor. Too funny. Shows how out of touch the white collar folks are. Oh by the way Higgs 10 hour days for minimum wage. Missed the boat on that one, what an insult.
Douglas James
Reply to @Shawn
Tabor: How do you figure unions made this mess? Wouldn't it be more
accurate to say the lack of proper negotiating on the part of the city
helped create this mess? People can ask all they want but it takes
someone giving in to their requests to create a given situation.
Shawn Tabor
Reply to @Douglas
James: yes you are correct, but they all feed from the same trough. You
have a few who want it all, but they have run out of feed. Now they want
us to bail them out, what a joke. Maybe get some of those fine Saint
John Law firms to figure it out. Reed Cheedore might be one to ask .
LOL. He could smooz it over I bet .
Ian Scott
Reply to @Douglas
James: No they strike and force issues. At that point the choice should
be streamline and reduce numbers if want to stay on total dollars
available, not carry on on the basis of municipal debt or tax increases.
Have you seen a union reduce its numbers willingly ? Its the
antithesis.
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn Tabor: Methinks your buddy Mr Lutz could fix it N'esy Pas?
Rick Grayson
Reply to @David Amos: methinks and n'esy pas??? Do you mean "I think" who knows why you have n'esy pas there...
Donald Gallant
Years ago Moncton lost CN and gained Technology of NB TEL AND MEDAVIE.
Saint John & Elsie turned that down and thought ship building and industry and it’s port was the future.
Moncton thrived and Saint John collapsed.
Only a miracle will save Saint John.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Donald Gallant: They both turned into SANB corporations , dominated by SANB Liberals
Dan Lee
Reply to @Lou Bell:
ahhh theres Higgs canary
ahhh theres Higgs canary
Donald Smith
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Don, maybe the City should buy some Miracle Grow lawn and plant food lol.
David Amos
Reply to @Dan Lee: So you know her nickname too
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks you will never quit pounding on that drum and Maggie will
always remind you of Higgy's past because everybody knows that a leopard
can't change its spots N'esy Pas? Too Too Funny Indeed
Controversial dry dock wrested from province's grasp headed back to New Brunswick
Dry dock at centre of spat between province, Groupe Océan headed to Saint John port
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: May 06, 2020 5:00 AM AT
12 Comments
Lou Bell
Another Liberal / SANB failure !
Marguerite DesChamps
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Your hero, the elusive Higgs Bozon (without the "n") will not raise his little finger to help anything north of Albert county and they will remember. He will never win another mandate. He's not a COR for nothing.
val harris
Carr was never a leader so this was for sure gonna be his remarks. Too bad how the outlying areas like to use the facilities, roads and all other city owned areas. Pay up or don’t use it
John Pokiok
Reply to @val harris: they don't use it anymore than you use theirs
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @val harris:
And you can quit sending your log trucks out here ruining our roads and
forests so you can have your high paying smoke spewing, pulp mill jobs.
Shawn Tabor
Reply to @val harris:
you said it Val, let’s all stop going to the city and we all can shop
in Moncton or Fredericton. Same stores.
David Amos
Reply to @val harris: Methinks mindless Carr drew the short straw when Higgy et al were picking Ministers N'esy Pas?
Rick Grayson
Reply to @David Amos: Me thinks you have too much time on your hands N'esy pas? lol
David Amos
Reply to @Rick Grayson: Why is it that I am not laughing with you but at you?
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David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/05/minister-sides-with-suburbs-in.html
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/05/minister-sides-with-suburbs-in.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sustainability-deficit-property-tax-reform-industry-trucking-budget-1.5555510
Council decides Saint John Energy is not for sale
Council also rejects plan to charge permit fees for heavy trucks
· CBC News · Posted: May 05, 2020 7:00 AM AT
The city of Saint John will look for ways to get some revenue from its municipally owned electrical utility, but city council has removed selling the company from the list of options. (CBC)
Saint John councillors have put the brakes on any plan to sell Saint John Energy.
The sale of the municipally owned utility was being considered as an option for the cash-strapped city and could have generated a dividend of between $4 million and $7 million per year.
But it would also have seen residential electricity costs increase 10 per cent after three years to match those of NB Power.
On the other hand councillors did approve a long list of measures to reduce operational costs and increase fees to deal with estimated $10 million deficits projected in 2021 and 2022.
"Let there be no doubt there will be significant workforce reduction," said city manager John Collin.
The plan will also see the Saint John Transit Commission disbanded and control over the bus system moved back to city hall. The transit budget is to be reduced by $750,000.
Workforce costs are to be reduced $1.1 million at the police department and $1.3 million at the fire department.
Low tax growth
The city has struggled for several years with limited or near zero tax-assessment growth while costs in many areas, chiefly labour, have increased.
Saint John city manager, John Collin: 'There will be significant workforce reduction.' (Connell Smith, CBC)
Councillors also turned their backs on a proposal that would have seen the municipality set up a permit system for heavy trucks that would have created an additional $1.1 million in annual revenue.
They elected instead to find that money on the cost side through job cuts, bringing total payroll cuts up to $6 million by the end of this year.
The truck permit plan was opposed by most of the city's heavy industries, the Chamber of Commerce and by the Canadian Manufacturers Association and had very little support among councillors.
"The business people of this city have made it very clear to me they're not teaming up with us until we cut our own staff, if that's what it takes, but we have to cut what's inside of our own city [government]," said Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary, who authored the motion to take the heavy truck permit plan off the list of recommendations to raise new revenue.
But even larger, long term reforms aimed at putting the city on track for growth are viewed as dependant on the introduction of major changes by the provincial government.
The first would have seen the province's share of the property tax on Saint John heavy industries — about $8 million annually — turned over to the city until promised property tax reforms of some sort are introduced in 2022.
The other would have seen legislation to force the city's neighbours to contribute considerably more money to offset the costs Saint John incurs as a regional hub.
Jeff Carr, New Brunswick's Minister of Environment and Local Government: The city must demonstrate 'substantial and measurable progress.' (CBC)
In an email to city council Monday, Local Government Minister Jeff Carr put a damper on both requests, suggesting the city has not yet done enough to rein in its own costs.
"While the province is committed to maintaining our track record of support for the City, it strongly encourages the City of Saint John to take the required steps to demonstrate it is prepared to address the foundational constraints that are holding it back from building a financially sustainable future," wrote Carr.
The minister said he would not reconvene a regional management task force that had been looking into cost-sharing between the city and its neighbours until Saint John "has demonstrated substantial and measurable progress" on sustainability.
About the Author
20 Comments
David Amos
Methinks all the people who attended the secret meetings of the EUB last summer know why I am a giggling at General Collin's nonsense N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: I bet Ray Robinson and his nasty lawyer are sweating about now for fear i might let some cat out the bag
Gary MacKay"there will be significant work force reduction". Then the city also needs to recognize it will not have the ability to service many / much of the outlying areas and needs to reduce the size by returning areas back to the province (now LSD) to deal with.
Mac Isaac
Reply to @Gary MacKay:
Like you I've often wondered why Saint John, back in the days of
willy-nilly amalgamations, took on such a large area to not only govern
as part of the city, but also be forced to service. It made little sense
then and makes even less now. Part of the reason I think both the City
of Fredericton and the City of Moncton have maintained excellent books
is they have taken on more than they can service. Many of us look at
Saint John and we see a mismanaged city but I wonder if that's the case
or is it that they bit off more than they could chew back when they did
those amalgamations?
Lou Bell
Reply to @Mac Isaac:
Size. They wanted to remain the largest city in the province, be it h--l
or high water . Areas amalgamated by Fredericton already had most / all
services when added except for two or three minor exceptions . AS we
saw a few months ago Saint John has let wages , especially for their
Police and Fire Depts. get well out of hand and they bowed to the unions
BIGLY. It appears overtime runs rampant , as do abuse of sick leave and
any other benefits the workers can abuse. Better off to get rid of the
massive overtime cost and hire a FEW extra Police officers and would
still have lots of money left over. I'd suspect with retirements the
targets can be achieved quite quickly.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Too Too Funny Indeed Controversial dry dock wrested from province's grasp headed back to New Brunswick
Dry dock at centre of spat between province, Groupe Océan headed to Saint John port
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: May 06, 2020 5:00 AM AT
12 Comments
Lou Bell
Another Liberal / SANB failure !
Marguerite DesChamps
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Your hero, the elusive Higgs Bozon (without the "n") will not raise his little finger to help anything north of Albert county and they will remember. He will never win another mandate. He's not a COR for nothing.
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks you will never quit pounding on that drum and Maggie will
always remind you of Higgy's past because everybody knows that leopards
can't change their spots N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks If I told Old Fred who I thought it was that wanted buy Saint John Energy he would not read it nor would he care to believe anyway N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer
Now that the deal to sell Saint John Energy is dead, it is time to reveal who the potential buyer was.
GARY
MERCER
Reply to @Fred
Brewer: Well Fred, if they were willing to pay a dividend of 4 to 6
million, then my figures were not far off, once they matched the NBPower
rate. When Saint Johner's pay equal to us for that, power cost PLUS A
$260 DEBT LEVY ( to even the field then we can begin the discussion of
Assisting SJ dollar for dollar. and I said discussion.
Fred
Brewer
Reply to @GARY
MERCER: Off topic. This post is about learning the identity of the
potential buyer. I think the public has a right to know. It better not
have been Mr. Magic Beans himself.
GARY
MERCER
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Interesting that it is off-topic, when you know the info is right!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/dry-dock-group-ocean-return-saint-john-port-1.5556873
Controversial dry dock wrested from province's grasp headed back to New Brunswick
Dry dock at centre of spat between province, Groupe Océan headed to Saint John port
· CBC News · Posted: May 06, 2020 5:00 AM AT
The floating dry dock built in Bas-Caraquet is tugged out of the Port of Quebec on Monday, bound for Saint John. (Submitted/Carole Brodeur)
One of New Brunswick's most infamous pieces of marine infrastructure is on its way back to the province.
A floating dry dock built at taxpayer expense at a shipyard in Bas-Caraquet, and removed to Quebec last fall, is en route to Saint John, where it will be used in the modernization of the port's west-side facilities.
Last year, Premier Blaine Higgs called the removal of the provincially-owned dry dock from the New Brunswick Naval Centre "a disgrace" and asked the Federal Court of Canada to block it.
But Groupe Océan eventually won the right to move the dry dock to its main location in Quebec City.
Now the dry dock is being tugged back to New Brunswick, where a contractor will use it to build and move massive concrete box-like caissons as part of the port's $205-million expansion.
The dry dock in question was built at the New Brunswick Naval Centre in Bas-Caraquet. (www.simexperts.com
Groupe Océan spokesperson Philippe Filion said the dry dock is versatile enough that it was a less expensive option for the general contractor.
"It's so well made, it can be used for more than just raising and lowering vessels," he said. "It's a piece of equipment that New Brunswickers can really be proud of."
The dry dock's return journey to New Brunswick was first reported by Carole Brodeur, who works on a tugboat at the Port of Quebec. She posted photos of the dry dock to a Quebec City-based "shipspotting" Facebook group.
Port modernization
Saint John Port Authority CEO Jim Quinn said eight huge concrete caissons, each the size of a six-storey building, will be built one at a time on the dry dock. The caissons will then be floated in the water, filled with rock and sunk to become part of a new wharf."It's kind of going to be interesting to watch," Quinn said. "People think concrete doesn't float, but it does."
Groupe Océan is also dredging as part of its work for general contractor Pomerleau.
The dry dock will be used in the modernization of the port in Saint John. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)
The federal and provincial governments have each contributed $68 million to the port modernization.
Quinn wouldn't say what he made of the dry dock's role relative to its controversial history. "I have no comment on whatever happened a while back," he said with a chuckle.
Troubled past
New Brunswick taxpayers spent $10 million on the dry dock, which was built at the New Brunswick Naval Centre, a shipyard in the village of Bas-Caraquet.The yard was initially owned by the village and the neighbouring town of Caraquet, but the previous Liberal government took it over in 2016 after it ran out of money. Groupe Océan was an anchor tenant at the shipyard and several other boat builders operate there.
Last summer, the Higgs government refused to help fund a slipway at the yard, infrastructure that the Quebec company said it needed to be able to bid for larger shipbuilding contracts in Bas-Caraquet.
The premier called it "a disgrace" that New Brunswick taxpayers had subsidized a piece of infrastructure that would be used to compete with the Bas-Caraquet shipyard.
The New Brunswick government took over the municipal-run shipyard in 2016. (CBC)
Groupe Océan argued the plan all along was to build the dry dock in Bas-Caraquet, providing local workers with training and experience for future projects, then move it to Quebec.
The province tried to seize the dry dock through the Federal Court. But after granting an initial injunction, the court ruled that Groupe Océan could move it to Quebec.
Groupe Océan called the province's legal action an attempt to blame the company for the problems at the shipyard.
Fillion said last year the company might sue the province, but he said this week nothing has been filed. "We're still examining our options," he said.
The Higgs government had no comment on the dry dock being used in Saint John other than to acknowledge it.
"The Regional Development Corporation was advised by Groupe Océan that the dry dock would be moved to Saint John for use during the Port of Saint John modernization project," said spokesperson Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn.
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