Moncton Chamber Of Commerce Says Homelessness, Affordable Housing Key Election Priorities
MONCTON – The business community in Moncton has a few priorities they want a new provincial government to tackle. But first things first, all parties should focus on a continued economic reboot and put the province back on the growth path, the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Moncton said.
Chamber CEO John Wishart says the New Brunswick government has been among the least active in providing support for business recovery during the pandemic.
The chamber says while the province is leading the country in business openings and people returning to work, that’s because the province was successful in keeping the number of Covid-19 cases low, not government support for business.
Unlike some of its neighbouring provinces, New Brunswick didn’t offer programs to help with commercial rent, personal protective equipment, or business restart, Wishart said.
“The next government should sit down with the business community and say, ‘okay, perhaps we’re still in this period where federal support is helping to keep some businesses afloat. What happens three-to-six months from now when that aid stops?” he said. “Is there a place or role for the province?”
The chamber says during these uncertain times, the new government should ensure it’s responsible with finances and efficient in spending, while also continuing to reduce red tape and the overall tax burden on businesses and residents.
One of the key issues affecting businesses locally that the province can help tackle is homelessness and security, Wishart said.
“Homelessness has been on the chamber’s radar now for a year or two, but this summer, maybe partly due to Covid, it’s risen almost to the top of the list amongst local issues at least,” he said. “We hear every day from a downtown business owner who is already facing the difficulty of staying afloat because of Covid, now the homelessness situation has reached a point where it’s having an impact on their ability to conduct business.”
He says more business owners are reporting panhandling on Main St., illegal drug practices in the downtown core and elsewhere in the city, damage to washroom facilities in businesses, and private business properties and parking garages become “de facto homes for many homeless.”
He said those experiencing homelessness need help with mental health and addiction, but the issues have become a business issue as much as it is a social one.
“We think that if it’s left unchecked, there’s a possibility that it could damage downtown Moncton’s reputation,” he said, adding he’s heard of potential investors in downtown asking whether any solution has come up for the issue.
“When it gets to that point, then we better act on it – in the short term maybe with some enforcement and some ways to deal with it, and then in the longer term with affordable housing,” he added.
He said governments need to back affordable housing projects like Rising Tide, a $12-million project led by the non-profit sector to create 125 affordable units with wrap-around support services. The program called for $6-million from the city of Moncton and $6-million from the province over three years.
“That’s $2-million a year from the province. We don’t think that’s out of reach of possibility even in difficult financial times, especially when the federal government has committed $300-million over 10 years. Like, come on this is an urgent issue,” Wishart said. “This is not a tomorrow issue. I think downtown businesses need to see some sort of commitment from both levels of government to see the situation fixed.”
RELATED: Moncton Supports $12-Million Affordable Housing Project
Wishart also suggests a sort of subsidy or tax forgiveness program to incentivize developers to build affordable units, acknowledging that many new buildings downtown offering higher-end rental units.
“How do we create the circumstances where a developer says, I’m going to build 200 new units this year but 40 of them will be affordable housing?” he said. “There must be models across Canada, best practices that have been done. So let’s make it worthwhile for the private sector to invest in affordable housing.”
Besides homelessness and affordable housing, Immigration and population growth are the other issues important to businesses.
Reform on property tax and local government are also key, Wishart said. The Higgs government had planned to reduce the “double-tax” on apartment buildings, cottages and second homes, but halted that move in May.
RELATED: N.B. Reverses Course On ‘Double Tax’ Reduction On Properties
With greater strains expected on the healthcare and education systems, “we need to generate tax base that can pay for those that doesn’t strangle private sector growth,” he said. That could include making public services more regional, so funds saved from that can be spent on other priorities.
“How do we best tax both individuals and businesses, so it’s fair and we tax the revenue we need, but it also doesn’t penalize the communities that may be leading growth…like Greater Moncton,” he said.
“Economic growth comes through private sector growth and not public sector growth. And we need to be careful because the provincial finances have gone overnight from a surplus and paying down the debt to a deep deficit, and the debt is going up again. But at the same time, there are some strategic investments that government at the provincial and federal level can make that will help move business along.”
That could include investing in the tourism sector or creating an innovation hub for medical marijuana, he said.
Wishart urges residents to vote, because “this is an important election for the province’s future not just for Covid, but because of where we are in terms of our ability to pay for the services we need.”