Politics Province pledges funds for six small projects, not for city's new drinking water system: MLA

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Reid Southwick
Telegraph-Journal

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SAINT JOHN - Mayor Ivan Court got the story wrong.

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Matthew Sherwood/Telegraph-Journal

Mayor Ivan Court at Monday’s common council meeting, where he said the province has committed water for the city’s new drinking water system. Liberal MLA Stuart Jamieson said the provincial commitment is for six small water projects.

The province has not committed funding for a new water treatment system in the city, says Liberal MLA Stuart Jamieson, who represents Saint John-Fundy.

Rather, Jamieson said Tuesday he and other local MLAs told Court during a meeting this week that the province had pledged funds for only six small water projects - not the entire system - and another project that will stem flooding at Glen Falls.

"What we said to the mayor is that we are committed to water treatment facilities in Saint John," Jamieson said. "There was no financial commitment."

Court stunned reporters and his fellow council members Monday night, when he said the province had pledged its share of funds for water treatment, which will be the largest infrastructure project in the city's history.

The latest official price tag of the project was $215 million, which would require each level of government - including the province - to dole out about $59 million, with the city also committing its share of the federal gas tax rebate over seven years.

Such significant announcements are typically made by the premier and area MLAs with great fanfare, especially when a provincial election is approaching.

Equally confusing was the fact the city is reviewing its water treatment designs and will not likely know the final cost until the fall.

But Court said members of the Liberal caucus gave him consent to deliver the news, although he didn't say how much money the province would provide.

"The province of New Brunswick has committed to two projects in the city of Saint John; they are their two priorities, which are our priorities: safe, clean drinking water and a diversion project for Glen Falls," Court told Monday's council meeting. "They will pay their share."

Councillor Chris Titus, shaking his head, asked Court to repeat the announcement several times.

"I can't keep up with you tonight; this is just too much for me to comprehend," Titus said. "The provincial government told Mayor Ivan Court, 'You can tell the general public that we're in for at least a third of the costs for "¦ a $200-million project,' " Titus exclaimed.

Court nodded his head.

When contacted for comment, Jamieson said he didn't believe Court made those comments publicly. The Saint John-area MLA said he simply confirmed with the mayor during a breakfast meeting uptown on Monday the province had committed $8 million for six water pipeline projects and $6 million for a storm water diversion project at Glen Falls.

"These are the two projects we would find the funding for as long as the details can be worked out as to time, environmental impact assessment that needs to be done and if they fit in with the whole federal stimulus package," Jamieson said.

When asked to respond to Jamieson's comments, Court refined his statement Tuesday, saying he believes the federal government will pledge the necessary funds once the city has a final price tag in the fall.

"When we're sitting down come September and we go back to the federal government and we say we need 'x' number of dollars, the province will be with us," Court said.

Conservative Saint John MP Rodney Weston said Ottawa had received applications for the six water projects this week and was also reviewing an application for the Glen Falls project.

The MP expressed excitement the water projects in particular were moving ahead.

"We haven't seen any movement on this project and we're seeing a level of commitment from the provincial government and I'm delighted," Weston said.

The MP said it was too early to tell whether the projects will receive federal approval.