The March 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting for the Municipal District of St. Stephen, held at the Garcelon Civic Centre, covered a range of topics, including tourism, healthcare, housing, and community safety. CHCO-TV’s Florence Mitchell provided gavel-to-gavel coverage.

Tourism Levy Proposal

David Whittingham presented a proposed Tourism Accommodation Levy Bylaw, which would introduce a fee of up to 3.5% on accommodations to fund tourism initiatives. "This levy allows tourism-related projects to happen without putting a strain on local residents and businesses," Whittingham said. The bylaw aims to boost local events and infrastructure without relying solely on municipal funds.

Healthcare Recruitment Incentives

Council discussed efforts to attract medical professionals through new incentive policies. "It's hard to find a place where this kind of levy isn’t already in place," one councillor noted, emphasizing how reinvesting tourism dollars could create a positive cycle benefiting the community.

Community Safety & Branding Discussions

The Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission provided an update on ongoing safety efforts. Infrastructure improvements were also on the agenda, including a rebranding project. "We have too many tag lines. Are we "The Middle of Everywhere? Are we Chocolate Town?" said Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Renaud, calling for a unified identity to improve marketing and tourism.

Oldest Basketball Court Restoration

Councillor David Hyslop updated council on fundraising efforts for the World’s Oldest Basketball Court, a key heritage site in St. Stephen. "There’s been a substantial amount of fundraising and awareness," he said, highlighting strong community support for the project.

Housing Accelerator Fund Denied

Despite extensive efforts, the municipality’s application for Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) support was unsuccessful. "This is very disappointing. The application was done really, really well," said Councillor Wade Greenlaw, expressing frustration over the decision. The rejection adds to ongoing challenges in addressing local housing needs.

Encouraging Public Input

Councillors stressed the need for community engagement in shaping policies. "The more people we get to respond to that survey, the better information we’ll have to move forward," one councillor said.