‘Is this fair?’: N.B. mayors talk homelessness, immigration

Three New Brunswick mayors discussed immigration and homelessness at a meeting in Moncton.

Questions about homelessness, public safety, housing and immigration were on the minds of business owners in Moncton Tuesday morning.

More than 300 members of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton gathered at a downtown Moncton hotel to hear the mayors of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe answer questions on those topics.

Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said the homeless crisis is like trying to patch a sinking ship with a Band-Aid.

Arnold said the City of Moncton is paying more for social services for the homeless than any other municipality in the province on a per capita basis.

“This is unprecedented, the investments we are making and it’s not sustainable. We, the taxpayers of Moncton, are paying for all of this,” said Arnold. “Is this fair? I don’t think so.”

A survey of chamber members conducted in late 2024 stated homelessness was the clear top priority for municipal, provincial and federal governments for the new year.

The city’s homeless crisis was the biggest issue for members at 31 per cent, followed by housing at 19 per cent and public safety and security at 17 per cent.

Arnold said the city spent $5.1 million on social issues last year and $6 million on affordable housing initiatives over a three-year period from 2021 to 2023.

“I don’t believe it’s sustainable and it’s the Moncton taxpayer that is paying for something that our provincial leaders have clearly articulated is a provincial responsibility,” said Arnold after the event. “I feel that it is not fair to the taxpayers of Moncton to be paying such an exorbitant amount of money for something that is the responsibility of another level of government.”

Riverview Mayor Andrew LeBlanc said none of the issues that came up in the survey were a surprise and the three municipalities constantly work together to try and address them.

LeBlanc said the homeless issue is more visible in downtown Moncton than in his community.

“But we’re still experiencing it in the other municipalities, it just may not look the same. We might have more folks who, for example, who could be couch surfing or have no fixed address. That’s why the issue of housing is so important,” said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc said the municipalities have a responsibility to work together to help those living rough on the streets, but also those who are on the brink of experiencing homelessness.

Dieppe Mayor Yvon Lapierre is very concerned about the situation, even if it isn’t really a visible problem in his city.

He said Dieppe is building more low-income housing units to help out even though there have been some objections.

“Because within our community sometimes we get pushback. The old NIMBY syndrome – not in my back yard – and we’re trying to work with that to improve the situation,” said Lapierre.

Immigration

All three mayors spoke in detail about the incredible growth each community is experiencing and how to sustain it for the future.

Arnold also mentioned the impact immigration is having on employment in Moncton.

“Seventeen per cent of the city’s workforce are newcomers,” she said.

Arnold is very concerned about the federal government’s immigration levels plan that will restrict the number of people who can come to Canada between 2025 and 2027.

“I feel that it has been a federal government initiative, a kind of one size fits all, without taking into consideration the specific needs of Atlantic Canada,” said Arnold.

Arnold said that in the next five years or so, roughly 130,000 people will leave the workforce in New Brunswick.

“That’s without any growth in our community. We know we have needs in our health care, education, skilled trades,” said Arnold. “There is just no way forward for a sustainable community unless we continue to welcome and include newcomers in our city.”

Labour shortage

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton’s survey was completed by 109 chamber members.

It revealed finding workers with the right labour skills was the most significant challenge businesses had heading into 2025.

A total of 38 per cent of businesses who responded said they have a shortage of skilled workers, while 32 per cent recruiting and retaining employees was a difficult process.

Wilson said there’s no surprises in terms of what’s resonating with important issues among their members.

“We saw affordable housing, we saw homelessness, investments and improvements in health care and education,” said Wilson. “The other thing is finding skilled workers and investments and improvements in health care and education.”

The survey will assist the chamber plan its advocacy strategy with the municipal, provincial and federal governments.

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