(Saint John Common Councillor Bruce Court)
(File Photo)
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase couldn't get to first base with his ideas on how to pay the estimated 260 million dollar cost to provide safe, clean drinking water in the city. His fellow Council members rejected even referring his suggestions to the City Solicitor. Councillor Bruce Court tells CHSJ News for him it was a non-starter saying Saint Johnners can't afford to pay higher taxes. Court says if the federal government wants new regulations then it should provide the extra money to pay for them and points out Ottawa could divert some of the money it is sending overseas down this way if it wants cleaner drinking water. Common Council will be hearing from the head of Municipal Operations, Paul Groody on this very issue later this month.
