Saint John’s 2026 budget increases spending on recreation, police and more
CBC
Saint John's proposed new operating budget would increase spending on recreation, police and housing in the coming year.
Coun. Gary Sullivan presented the budget at Monday night’s council meeting, where councillors voted in favour of it as a "receive and file” item.
Councillors will review the document over the next two weeks and send any questions to staff before it returns to council on Dec. 1 for a final vote.
The budget received unanimous approval from the city's finance committee on Nov. 12 after being presented as a draft on Oct. 29 by finance commissioner Kevin Fudge.
The $203-million budget is roughly 5.5 per cent — or approximately $10 million — higher than the previous budget. While spending increased on many fronts, the city will reduce residential tax rates by 1.5 cents.
“If we approve this budget, this council will have reduced the property tax rate in Saint John by 25 cents over [the last four years],” said Sullivan, summarizing the budget to councillors.
Sullivan and Fudge said more money was available to the city through funding opportunities from the provincial and federal governments, such as the Housing Accelerator Fund, agreements that funded the city’s "Housing for All" homeless strategy.
Sullivan also said it's the result of good debt management.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.