Amalgamation can be a controversial topic in Greater Moncton, which is part of why the Chamber of Commerce has never taken an official position on it.
CEO John Wishart says according to a recent survey, 40 per cent of residents are in support, with 38 per cent against, and the remaining 22 per cent undecided.
“We do hear from our members that they’d like to see the three communities work together as much as possible to create any efficiencies, lower costs, streamline approval processes, you know there’s different building inspection departments in all three communities, that sort of thing,” says Wishart.
He says the three municipalities are already trending in that direction in many areas, like a “common police force, our water system is the same, there are a lot of areas that are coming together.”
Wishart believes “the communities are going to release a joint tourism strategy this year which is another area that makes sense.”
He says basically they need to “look at what services do municipalities provide, and in what areas can we at least share the responsibility, and perhaps the cost as a starting point.”
