Fredericton city council used its meeting Monday night to press the provincial government for a faster, co‑ordinated response to homelessness, saying the issue is chiefly a provincial responsibility while formally endorsing three provincially funded supportive and transitional housing projects.
Council places responsibility at provincial level
Council voted to adopt a statement that planning, funding, co‑ordinating, delivering and evaluating homelessness, housing, health care, mental health, addictions and social service systems fall primarily to the Province of New Brunswick. The motion clarifies the city’s view of roles and responsibilities amid growing concern about public safety and the impacts on downtown businesses and city services.
“We need a sense of urgency,” Mayor Steve Hicks said after the meeting, emphasising that the problem “doesn't seem to be going away” and that residents and businesses must be able to feel safe for the downtown to function as it should. Hicks said the provincial government collects the majority of tax revenue and that the impacts from homelessness are driving up policing costs for the city.
“But we need a sense of urgency. This problem doesn't seem to be going away. We need to get people help.” — Mayor Steve Hicks
Local and provincial roles clarified
City officials framed the motion not as an attempt to shirk municipal duties but to define jurisdiction. The resolution states that the city’s responsibilities include land‑use planning, municipal infrastructure, management of public spaces, safety and mitigating municipal impacts of homelessness — while the province should lead the broader policy and service delivery.
- Council endorsed three provincially funded supportive and transitional housing projects.
- The statement declares homelessness and related health and social systems to be primarily provincial responsibilities.
- City leaders cited increasing policing costs and public safety concerns as motivating the request for provincial urgency.
Chief administrative officer Steve Hart said the motions are meant to advance the conversation with the provincial government, signalling municipal willingness to work within its mandate while pressing for stronger provincial action. Council’s move follows a municipal election last spring in which public safety was a top issue for voters.
Short‑term measures and ongoing tensions
The meeting also touched on operational matters: an overnight homeless shelter is reported to be returning to its former location, a move that highlights the immediacy of service needs even as broader system changes are sought. Council members repeatedly stressed the importance of both helping people experiencing homelessness and ensuring public safety for residents and businesses.
| Level of government | Primary responsibilities (as stated by council) |
|---|---|
| Province | Planning, funding, co‑ordination, delivery and evaluation of homelessness, housing, health care, mental health, addictions and social services |
| City of Fredericton | Land‑use planning, municipal infrastructure, management of public spaces, safety and mitigating municipal impacts |
Council members said they hope the formal statement will prompt the province to set clearer timelines and increase supports for those in need, while allowing municipal staff to better plan for safety and infrastructure implications. No new provincial commitments or timelines were announced at the council meeting.
Advocates and service providers across Fredericton have long warned that homelessness intersects with mental health and addictions, and that shortfalls in provincial supports can shift costs and pressures onto municipalities and emergency services.
With public safety a prominent concern during last spring’s municipal election, council’s actions reflect both political and practical pressures to show progress. City leaders say they remain ready to collaborate with the provincial government but want concrete, timely steps to reduce harm and improve supports for vulnerable people living in Fredericton.
