March 18, 2004
Waterfront Development
Officials optimistic of funding for Coast Guard site
Telegraph-Journal
Premier, Andy Scott, John Herron among those who met last week to discuss project
The proposed $100-million development of Saint John's Coast Guard site was the subject of high-level talks among federal and provincial politicians in Ottawa last week.
Premier Bernard Lord, Business New Brunswick Minister Peter Mesheau, Training and Employment Development Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney, federal Infrastructure Minister Andy Scott and Fundy-Royal MP John Herron were among the elected officials gathered around the table.
"This file moved more in the last 96 hours from a potential funding perspective than it has in quite some time," Mr. Herron says.
Steve Carson, general manager of Enterprise Saint John, says it was a rare opportunity to get senior Ottawa people together with provincial decision-makers.
Mr. Scott described the meetings with his provincial counterparts, who were in the nation's capital as part of their repatriation tour, as "a breath of fresh air."
"If the will is there, and I sure think it is, then this can happen," Mr. Carson says. "We haven't seen this kind of focus in the community since the early 80s."
Although he doesn't expect an announcement before the expected spring federal election, Mr. Carson is optimistic funding may not be that far away.
"My sense of it is that this project has the potential over the next six to 12 months for the funding to fall into place."
Waterfront development, as a whole, is a critical component of the city's growth strategy, which was unveiled with great fanfare last October.
The top priority is transforming the Coast Guard site, at the foot of King Street, into a knowledge/educational centre that would house the University of New Brunswick - Saint John's School of Business, some National Research Council staff, New Brunswick Community College programs and the private sector.
It would increase pedestrian traffic by bringing an estimated 1,500 people to the waterfront every day, boosting the demand for bars, restaurants, shops and apartments. An additional demand for housing would be another positive spin-off.
Mr. Herron says he and Mr. Scott share a passion for the province's universities and colleges, as institutions that promote innovation while serving as the home for research and development.
"This is an opportunity from a regional development perspective to make a strategic investment to create wealth as opposed to utilizing regional development funds to compensate for a lack of wealth," Mr. Herron says.
He says Saint John's waterfront development proposal mirrors the province's prosperity plan, and it also fits within the parameters of what the federal government wants to do in terms of investing in cities, research and development, and involving the private sector in those initiatives.
Saying it's at the preliminary stage, Mr. Scott wasn't about to commit any money. While there are many different federal programs that could be tapped, Saint John will be up against other projects for funding.
"I wanted them to know what programs existed," Mr. Scott says. "I wanted them to know that I am quite interested in this project."
Mrs. Blaney says she's encouraged that Mr. Scott is interested in knowing more and pursuing some opportunities and options. She says it would have a huge impact on Greater Saint John.
"It's a very good fit with everything that we're trying to do to grow our economy. From innovation to prosperity, it's got it all. It's a tremendous project."
But the province isn't prepared to cut a cheque yet either.
The file has landed on the desk of Denis Caron, an assistant deputy minister in the Department of Intergovernmental and International Relations, whose department is working with other provincial departments. He says it remains at the conceptual stage, and government officials would have to see a business plan before any level of support would be provided.
"There's still a lot of work to be done before, provincially, we make any form of commitment here on the project."
Mr. Herron, who has also met individually with Mrs. Blaney and Saint John Mayor Shirley McAlary, says this is more than a Saint John project since it has the capacity to strengthen the entire province. The city's role includes securing ownership of the site from the federal government.
"I can tell you that all three levels of government and the private sector sense an extraordinary opportunity to transition our economy in Saint John. More importantly, they sense that we can seize that opportunity in the relative near future."
Mr. Herron believes Greater Saint John has the potential to be the place to grow in Atlantic Canada.
"This is regional development at its best," he says. "This is something special."