News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government has introduced amendments that would require participating communities to become financial contributors to the Greater Saint John Regional Facilities Commission and pay an average of 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

“There are five regional facilities and they require regional support to ensure their sustainability in the long-term,” said Environment and Local Government Minister Jeff Carr. “The proposal will ensure more representation on the commission and more voices from local governments and local service districts will be heard.”

He said the average cost works out to about $2.30 a month for a $100,000 property.

For more than 20 years, the Greater Saint John Regional Facilities Commission Act has required the local governments of Saint John, Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis and Rothesay to share the net operating costs of Harbour Station, the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, the Saint John Arts Centre and the Imperial Theatre. However, only the City of Saint John has been responsible for the capital costs associated with these five facilities.

The following local service districts and local governments will become financial contributors to the five facilities: the Town of Hampton, the Village of St. Martins, the Local Service District of Fairfield, the parish of Greenwich, the parish of Kingston, the parish of Musquash, the parish of Rothesay, the parish of Simonds, the parish of Westfield, the parish of Saint Martins, the parish of Petersville and the parish of Hampton.

Amendments to the Greater Saint John Regional Facilities Commission Act were introduced Nov. 20 in the legislative assembly.

Having vibrant and sustainable communities is one of the government’s key priorities. More information about the government’s priorities and measurements is available online.