Posted Aug 25, 2007, 3:40 PM
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Who is Metro's voice in Ottawa?
With river restoration, convention centre and airport projects in works, Opposition MP wants to know who is standing up for Metro Moncton in cabinet
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By Kate Wright
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday August 25th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
OTTAWA - As a thriving community with a bustling economy, Metro Moncton is one of the great economic generators in the Maritime provinces.
But as the city experiences rapid growth, its infrastructure needs are quickly changing. Metro needs the help of both the provincial and federal governments to realize its potential as the East Coast's hub city.
A convention centre, increased customs staffing at the Greater Moncton International Airport, funding for the thriving aerospace industry and federal funding for the restoration of the Petitcodiac River are all major economic projects that are on the cusp of coming to fruition.
Given the importance of the issues on the city's plate, having a voice at the federal cabinet table has never been more paramount.
With an Opposition MP representing the city without a direct link to the Prime Minister's Office, some community leaders are wondering who on the government side is standing up for Metro Moncton's interests at the cabinet table.
New Brunswick's regional minister Greg Thompson has been criticized this week for admitting to not having read the exhaustive Environmental Impact Assessment that determined the Petitcodiac River must be restored -- arguably one of the largest restoration projects in the province's history.
Thompson has deferred the lead on the river file to Fundy-Royal MP Rob Moore, who has been a vocal opponent of the restoration project.
Sitting on the Opposition side of the Commons, Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Brian Murphy is limited in how far he can influence his colleagues on the government side of the House on Metro's important files.
While the river largely affects his riding, Murphy said the issue also affects people in the ridings of surrounding Tory MPs, making it an issue that should be heard in Ottawa.
"In city government, I became quite vocal on a number of issues, such as cleaning up the water," he said. "Likewise on the river, we are not being heard or read in this case and it's time for us to make a stink."
While Moore has been granted the lead on the file by Thompson, Murphy said Moore doesn't represent the province on the issue.
"I would like to know who's representing New Brunswick for the federal government," he said.
Interview requests to Rob Moore were not returned yesterday.
Dieppe Mayor Achille Maillet is appealing to Thompson and Moore to bring the province's preferred option of removing the causeway to Ottawa, hoping they will stand up for Metro's interests.
Named as one of the most endangered rivers in the world by a number of organizations including National Geographic and Earthwild International, Maillet said the decision to support the restoration project "makes sense" for the region.
"This is extremely important for the economy of the entire region. We will continue knocking on that door," he said. "We will be writing to Mr. Thompson and Mr. Moore and we're hopeful that Mr. Thompson will turn around and say, 'This makes sense for the region'"
Like many files waiting for federal funds, Maillet said the river file needs to move forward quickly and that local Conservative MPs need to stand up for the interests of the city.
The business community is cautious in questioning who's looking out for Metro's needs at the cabinet table.
Valerie Roy, CEO of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce, said yesterday that the business community has had to come together and rally Ottawa on its own to put pressure on the federal government in support of important city issues.
In a city that is fast evolving, Roy said there are a number of issues that Moncton is looking for federal help with.
"We have a lot of issues in front of government right now and it's evident that the community, we all agree on what those issues are, but we're not the only community that has issues in front of government," she said.
Roy said regardless of who is in power federally, communities are often left to lobbying Ottawa on their own.
John Thompson, CEO of Enterprise Greater Moncton, said his organization has set its priorities -- including a convention centre and Fundy Gateway funding -- and has been rallying the federal government on Metro's priorities.
While he agrees the river restoration project is a good one, he adds that much-needed infrastructure is also key to boosting Metro's economic profile.
"We have to keep it in context," he said. "We're the largest municipality in New Brunswick. We generate a lot of economic activity. As a community, when you start to grow, you need key infrastructures -- it's extremely important."
Thompson said that the region's elected officials have a number of projects to handle and that they are doing the best they can with the federal resources allocated to the area.
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