city council

Trees bare of leaves surround a wetland area, with the view of the forest in the background.

Controversial road expansion approved by Kitchener city council

December 19, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

The City of Kitchener approved the Biehn Drive road expansion at city council earlier this week. Approval came after ten delegations that spoke against the motion. Many of which were concerned for the wetlands upon which this road expansion would be built.

The Biehn Drive road expansion is planned to connect Biehn Drive with Strasburg Road, going through a wetland area in the Doon neighbourhood. Discussion over this expansion has been happening since 1989.

The City says that this expansion would be supporting the new housing developments in the area and increasing accessibility for emergency response vehicles.

Residents have been fighting to protect the wetlands in the area for 35 years and they continued to do so at this week’s city council meeting.

A view of uptown Saint John, across the Saint John River, from Wolastoq Park on a clear day with blue skies, and vegetation in the foreground

Three cent tax cut passed in city council budget vote

December 13, 2024 by Iona Coe

Saint John’s 2025 operating budget came before the city council this week, and was passed by six votes to three. The budget included a three cent property tax cut. The three opponents to the budget were Joanna Killen, Brent Harris, and Paula Radwan. Radwan said she had hoped to see a 5 cent cut to ease the city’s current “affordability crisis”.

The audio was taken from the recording of the meeting on the City of Saint John YouTube channel.

Mariah Darling standing outside on a street in Uptown Saint John, with snow and ice on the ground and Christmas decorations attached to nearby lamposts.

Mariah Darling voted in as new Saint John city councillor

December 11, 2024 by Iona Coe

The Saint John Ward 3 by-election took place on Monday, December 9th, with a total of eleven candidates running and despite the crowded field a clear winner was announced on Monday evening.

Gaining 32% of the vote, Mariah Darling was elected as councillor for Ward 3. Darling received a total of 375 votes, with Ryan Moore coming second with 269, or 23% of the vote.

Darling spoke with Local 107.3FM about their reaction to the win, and their anticipation of working on the city council. Provincial Housing Minister, David Hickey, whose vacated seat Darling is filling, added some words of advice to his successor.

Meanwhile, in the Fundy-St. Martins Ward 1 by-election, Tom Raithby was elected, and in Valley Waters, to the northeast of Saint John, Mary-Francis (Fran) Kiersted was elected for Ward 4. The full results of all the province’s by-elections can be found at electionsNB.ca.

Heather Way with the two lanes to the right side of the median barricaded, with construction taking place in the distance and a clear blue sky above.

City to reopen barricaded lanes due to resident opposition

December 4, 2024 by Iona Coe

An extra meeting of the City Council was convened on Monday evening to discuss the use of Heather Way. Two of the four lanes of the road on the east side of the city were closed in October, due to concerns regarding cost of upkeep and the relatively small amount of traffic using it. However, an open house was held on November 27th where residents voiced their opposition to the closure.

The recommendation presented to the council to reopen the lanes was passed unanimously. This decision coincides with the reopening of all lanes on the Harbour bridge for the winter. This long term construction work should require just one more season of road closure, according to a recent statement by Provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Chuck Chiasson.

The audio was taken from the video of the council meeting on the city’s YouTube channel.

Eleven people sit on a stage, with black curtains behind them and a sign for the organizers, the Human Development Council, displayed to the right, in front of the stage.

Canada Post strike creates difficulties for upcoming New Brunswick municipal byelections

November 29, 2024 by Iona Coe

With byelections approaching in New Brunswick in the midst of the ongoing strike by Canada Post workers, voter information cards have been delayed and are unlikely to reach voters by December 9th. As a result, Elections New Brunswick has employed alternate avenues to distribute information to voters.

Local byelections include Saint John Ward 3 and Fundy-St Martins Ward 1.

Local 107.3FM spoke with the municipal returning officer responsible for both of these byelections, Terry Totten. Totten explained what voters will need to cast their ballots, and where and when they will be able to vote.

Eleven candidates have put their names forward for the Saint John City Council Ward 3 position, while three people, Lyndsay Clements Epton, Katie Herrington, and Tom Raithby, are standing for Fundy-St Martins Ward 1.

The byelections take place on December 9th, and information about all the candidates can be found via ElectionsNB.ca.

a woman with long blonde hair seated in a coffee shop, with an open fire in the background to the left side, set in a wall of exposed brick.

Byelection candidate Jennifer Thompson talks about her vision for Saint John

November 26, 2024 by Iona Coe

David Hickey’s win in the Saint John Harbour riding in last month’s provincial election resulted in his seat on the city council becoming vacant. With a byelection soon to be contested to fill the seat and the deadline for nominations now passed, a total of eleven people are running for the Ward 3 councillor position, including Jennifer Thompson.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Thompson in a busy Uptown coffee shop about her reasons for standing in the by-election and what she hopes to bring to the role.

The by-election is set to take place on December 9th and advance polling is now open. Local 107.3 FM has reached out to all eleven candidates for interviews. Information about all the candidates can be found via electionsNB.ca.

Andrew Miller seated with a chair to his right and windows behind him, set into a wall of bare brick and wood panelling.

City Council Ward 3 byelection candidate Andrew Miller on his desire to build on his work behind the scenes

November 26, 2024 by Iona Coe

Following David Hickey’s win in the Saint John Harbour riding in the provincial election last month, his seat on the city council has been left vacant, and a byelection will soon be contested to fill the seat. The deadline has now passed for nominations, with a total of eleven people running for the Ward 3 councillor position, including Andrew Miller.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Miller about his reasons for standing in the by-election and what he hopes to bring to the role.

The by-election is set to take place on December 9th, and Local 107.3 FM has reached out to all eleven candidates for interviews. Information about all the candidates can be found via electionsNB.ca.

R5 rapid bus at sfu bus stop with people entering and leaving bus doors

Burnaby City Council to consider “bus bulbs” as compromise on bus route expansion

November 22, 2024 by Danny Nesvaderani

On Monday, November 18th, 2024, the Burnaby Mayor and City Council heard from Translink representatives that proposed improvements for the speed and reliability of the R5 rapid bus over a section Hastings Street in the Burnaby Heights area. This proposal suggested that the curbside lane in this area be a dedicated Bus lane from Monday to Sunday, 12 hours a day.

Burnaby City Councillors took issue with the street parking that this expansion would remove, the reason given being that the local businesses along Hastings Street in the Burnaby Heights neighborhood rely on those parking spaces to accommodate their customers.

After an extensive round of questions from Burnaby City Council, Councillor Daniel Tetrault successfully passed an amendment for Translink’s proposal, shortening the length of the expansion, and asking that they look into the feasibility of bus bulbs along Hastings Street, which would give buses the ability to pick passengers up without having to change lanes while retaining the areas street parking. Both those for and opposed to Translink’s proposal stated their approval for the final decision.

Kevin McCann seated on a grey settee with yellow cushions on it, and with abstract art on the cream-coloured walls behind him.

City Council Ward 3 byelection candidate Kevin McCann hopes to bring his “business acumen” to local government

November 20, 2024 by Iona Coe

David Hickey’s win in the Saint John Harbour riding in the provincial election last month has left his seat on the city council vacant. With the nomination deadline having now passed, eleven people have put their names forward for the Ward 3 councillor position, including Kevin McCann.

Local 107.3FM spoke with McCann about his reasons for standing in the by-election and what he hopes to bring to the role.

The by-election is set to take place on December 9th, and Local 107.3 FM has reached out to all eleven of the candidates for interviews. Information about all the candidates can be found via electionsNB.ca.

A young man smiling at the camera seated in a coffee shop, with a bare brick wall behind him.

City Council Ward 3 byelection candidate Adam Donnelly on the importance of community engagement

November 18, 2024 by Iona Coe

David Hickey’s win in the Saint John Harbour riding in last month’s provincial election, means that the seat he occupied on Saint John city council is now vacant. The deadline for nominations has now passed and eleven candidates have put their names forward for the Ward 3 seat, including Adam Donnelly.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Donnelly about his reasons for standing in the by-election and what he hopes to bring to the role.

You can reach Adam Donnelly at adamdonnellysj.ca

With the by-election set to take place on December 9th, Local 107.3FM has reached out to all of the candidates. Information about all eleven candidates can be found via electionsNB.ca.

Arty Watson seated in front of a window painted green, and a small section of red brick, with an exit door in the background

City Council Ward 3 byelection candidate Arty Watson on his reasons for running for the seat

November 15, 2024 by Iona Coe

Following David Hickey’s win in the Saint John Harbour riding in last month’s provincial election, the seat he occupied on Saint John city council has become vacant. A number of candidates have put their names forward for the Ward 3 council seat so far, including Arty Watson.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Watson about his reasons for standing in the by-election and what he hopes to bring to the role.

Local 107.3FM will be reaching out to all the other candidates over the coming days and weeks in the runup to the by-election, set to take place on December 9th. Information about all the candidates can be found via electionsNB.ca.

A woman seated at a desk in an office with framed certificates on the wall behind her along with hanging plants and a bookcase to the left side.

City Council Ward 3 byelection candidate Lisa Morris on what she hopes to bring to the council

November 14, 2024 by Iona Coe

David Hickey’s win in the Saint John Harbour riding in New Brunswick’s recent provincial election means that his seat on Saint John city council now needs to be filled. With the deadline for nominations falling on the afternoon of November 15th, a number of candidates have put their names forward for the Ward 3 council seat so far, including Lisa Morris.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Morris about her reasons for standing in the by-election and what she hopes to bring to the role.

You can reach Lisa Morris at her campaign page on Facebook.

Local 107.3FM will be reaching out to all the other candidates over the coming days and weeks, in the runup to the by-election, set to take place on December 9th. Information about all the candidates can be found via electionsNB.ca.