If everyone is opposed to new housing in their neighbourhood, where are we going to build?

Nov 15, 2024

Edmundston that thrives on its natural environment, but it’s above all a deeply human city where mutual aid, solidarity and generosity are important values. From fundraising campaigns for local organisations to community projects, every initiative is a great success. The people here are strong-hearted and care about the well-being of their neighbours.

That's why I'm always surprised when I hear citizens who, for all sorts of reasons, are opposed to the development of rental housing in their neighbourhood. Some reasons are brought forward, but we sense that it is first and foremost a fear of change that lies behind this opposition.

Some will say: We're fine the way we are! And others will ask: Why do we have to grow?

There's only one possible answer to that question: so that future generations WANT to stay here and work here, so that they can raise a family here and help their older relatives. Let's not bury our heads in the sand: we need people to ensure the growth of our economy and, in some cases, the survival of our local industries and institutions.

There's an old French proverb that says: "He who doesn't move forward moves backwards". And here we are. In fact, when it comes to housing, we have gone backwards, and we absolutely must reverse this trend.

With the imminent arrival of public transit, there's a great opportunity to build new housing close to the circuits, in areas that haven't reached their full potential.

For many people, this will be the chance to live in a home adapted to their needs, while reducing the necessity of having two cars in front of the door, and by the same token, lowering their expenses.

Our objective, clearly expressed by the Edmundston City Council in formally adopting a Municipal Declaration on Housing Accessibility, is to give residents access to all forms of housing throughout the city. Let's not forget it: housing is the nucleus of life that allows us to build ourselves individually and collectively.

If you, like many of us, have been snuggled up in your single-family home for the past thirty years, you may not realise just how many people in our community need housing. It could be your mother, your grandfather, your children, the new doctor who arrives to treat you, the new professor at the university campus. It could be that you want to live in a home better suited to your needs. It could be a new hockey coach and his family, or the person serving you your morning coffee. Or it could be your neighbour who has left a violent relationship. Everyone needs a roof over their head. That's why we need you, and you, and you too, to help us facilitate the construction of housing in Edmundston.

Think about it for a second: if everyone is opposed to building housing in their neighbourhood, where are we going to build? It just can’t be “elsewhere”. Whether we like it or not, the landscape of our community is set to change. With our well-planned housing acceleration program, supported by the federal and provincial governments, we're going to do it the right way, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a good quality of life.

Mayor Eric Marquis