According to a trio of Fredericton business groups, few issues have generated as much concern in the capital city than the topic of community safety. The concerns are particularly prevalent within the city’s business community, who have had a front row seat to the issues of addiction, mental health, crime, and homelessness. It has prompted an Op-Ed, titled “Our System of Care: We Can Do Better,” to be jointly published by Downtown Fredericton, Business Fredericton North, and the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. “While policing and criminal justice are critical to community safety, at its core, this issue is also about whether the health and social support systems we have built are producing acceptable outcomes - for vulnerable individuals and for the broader community. “Increasingly, it is clear that we can do better.” In an interview with CTV Atlantic, Downtown Fredericton executive director, Adam Peabody, says businesses are looking for a level of urgency from government and other community partners that falls in line with the urgency level the greater downtown community has been both feeling and facing for several years. The Op-Ed highlighted efforts undertaken by the City of Fredericton in recent years. That includes the implementation of a Community Safety Task Force in 2025 that has been actively working to bring in the 47 recommendations made by experts to address issues like policing, homelessness, housing and addiction, among others. “That’s only one part of the solution,” says Peabody. “What we really require now is intentional, urgent delivery of care when it comes to detox, mental health treatment, extended longer term stays for those that have very complex mental health and addiction challenges in a way that is producing the outcomes that they want to see, and the outcomes that the broader community needs to see as well.” The fact business improvement areas on either side of the Saint John River have come together to publish the Op-Ed speaks to the significance of the issues. Business Fredericton North general manager, Trina MacDonald, says while the issues do vary depending on the business improvement area, the core problems are consistent. “Overall, we need to have a review on an appropriate location for these types of services so that people that need help can get the help that they want and aren’t being set up to fail,” she says. “We want to set them up to succeed without having negative impacts on businesses.” The Op-Ed credits a recent decision made by Fredericton City Council to request a provincial review of the location, concentration, and coordination of health and social services downtown and around the Victoria Health Centre. Business groups want to see the review to determine if the services offered on site still benefit the growing city centre, or if an alternative can be found to benefit both businesses and vulnerable residents. “We want them to take a look and see if that’s the best place for all these services,” says Fredericton Mayor, Steve Hicks, who thanks to business groups for the letter expressing the urgency felt in the community. “[Look at] what can be provided there, what maybe shouldn’t be provided there, and then also a longer-term lens and the redevelopment of that property in the future.” The mayor says since taking over the role earlier this year, community safety has been a daily focus for him and council. That said, he acknowledges there is still much work to be done. He says the city has done as much as they can, but many of the issues come down to province’s decision. He says he has continued to collaborate with the province on the issues facing his community. “These things take a lot longer and they take more resources,” acknowledges the mayor. “With that said, we also want to see some action, and our business community and residents are asking for the same thing. So, we’re all kind of talking the same language, we all want the same results.” Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO, Morgan Peters, notes how the Op-Ed notes the issues are already identified and it isn’t a matter of looking for the problems facing businesses. “The better that we’re able to service the population of folks with complex needs, the better the business environment is going to be,” says Peters. “And other members of the community are going to feel that in a substantial way.” All three business leaders also mentioned that as the temperature starts to drop, the desperation among some vulnerable populations start to rise. They are hopeful the issues can be addressed before the snow comes. “Fredericton’s expectations can be both compassionate and practical,” the Op-Ed finishes. “Those objectives are not in conflict. And we can do better.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
