Fredericton turns to N.B. commission to help settle standoff over funding for new pool
CBC
A newly formed provincial commission is being asked to help resolve an impasse between New Brunswick municipalities that has left a proposed aquatic centre in procedural limbo.
Fredericton city councillors voted Monday to ask the Local Governance Commission to intervene after directors with the Capital Regional Service Commission failed to agree on whether the multimillion dollar project should be funded by neighbouring communities or solely by the city.
"If this can't be called a regional facility, I search and I search to see what would justify a facility being regional in nature," Coun. Eric Megarity said.
"It's sad that it comes down to this and I'm really disappointed."
A new aquatic centre has long been on the list of capital projects the city has planned to pursue. Pressure has mounted in recent years in light of the University of New Brunswick's plan to close the Sir Max Aitken Pool, where the city's competitive swim clubs are based.
Speaking to councillors on Monday, chief administrative officer Steve Hart said that in the past, the city would have to initiate large capital projects on its own and seek funding partners to make them happen.
Since local government reform in 2023, Hart said, the province has indicated it will only help fund large sport, recreational and cultural infrastructure if an entire region is working together to share costs.
The Capital Regional Service Commission, also known as RSC 11, is governed by a board of directors that includes the mayors of the municipalities within the region's boundaries.
In May, a committee within the regional commission recommended the proposed new pool be considered regional, with a cost-sharing formula based on population, tax base and proximity to the pool.
But in June, members of the board voted down three separate motions to categorize the aquatic centre as regional, sub-regional or local, leaving the project in procedural limbo.
"So the outcome, at this point, procedurally is unclear," Hart said.
"What was clear is that the majority of mayors of our region indicated that they did not want to participate in funding the pool via the RSC.
"And that leaves us, the City of Fredericton, in a predicament in terms of what are those pathways and how do we get there when there is an absolute need for an aquatic facility in in the city."
Monday's vote by councillors is aimed at getting the Local Governance Commission to review the decision by the regional commission, but the potential outcome is unclear, said Coun. Greg Ericson, who fills in for Mayor Kate Rogers as director when she's unavailable.
