SocietyPreview

Municipal

Saint John Common Council

  • French: Conseil communal de Saint John

Governs Saint John

Official website (saintjohn.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: saintjohn.ca, checked

At a glance

What it's for

A New Brunswick local government council provides services, facilities and other things it considers necessary or desirable, and makes by-laws on matters such as safety, health and welfare and public places. The law sets its purposes as good government, safe and viable communities and the community's economic, social and environmental well-being.

Local Governance Act, ss. 5 and 10 · Applies to every New Brunswick local government council

What it can't do

A by-law has no effect to the extent it is inconsistent with the Local Governance Act or any other Act or regulation.

Local Governance Act, s. 2(2) · Applies to every New Brunswick local government council

Who it answers to

Council is elected by local voters. Each year it must submit its budget and tax rates to the minister for approval, and the minister can repeal or amend a by-law that prevents reasonable use of property when it is in the public interest.

Local Governance Act, ss. 20.1, 23 and 99(2) · Applies to every New Brunswick local government council

Where its money comes from

Mostly a property tax on its tax base, at rates fixed under the Real Property Tax Act, plus grants under the Community Funding Act.

Local Governance Act, s. 99(2) · Applies to every New Brunswick local government council

Shares responsibility with

Works with the provincial government, which approves its budget and tax rates and can amend its by-laws in limited cases.

Local Governance Act, ss. 20.1 and 99(2) · Applies to every New Brunswick local government council

Next vote

  • General election · Councillor at large
  • General election · Councillor
  • General election · Mayor

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

  • Mayor laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Donna Noade Reardon as Mayor saintjohn.ca · checked
  • Deputy Mayor laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • John MacKenzie as Deputy Mayor saintjohn.ca · checked
  • Councillor laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Councillor at large laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Gary Sullivan as Councillor at large saintjohn.ca · checked
  • Gina Hooley as Councillor at large saintjohn.ca · checked
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What it can do

  • Natural person powers

    Has the capacity, rights, powers and privileges of a natural person for municipal purposes, exercised by the council; may provide services outside its limits by agreement (Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18, s. 6).

  • By-laws for safety, nuisances and animals

    Makes by-laws on the safety, health and welfare of people, public places, nuisances such as noise and pollution, dangerous or unsightly premises, building maintenance and occupancy standards, businesses, and animals (s. 10(1)(a)-(f), (h), (k)); must have by-laws on council procedure, a code of conduct and dog rabies vaccination (s. 10(2)).

  • Local services and facilities

    Runs programs and services and builds utilities, facilities and infrastructure, such as water and sewer, recreation and parks, fire protection and local waste collection (s. 10(1)(i), (j)); waste disposal and land-use planning for smaller members are common services of the Regional Service Commission (Regional Service Delivery Act, s. 4).

  • Streets and traffic

    Manages local roads, streets, sidewalks and street lighting, and regulates traffic and parking, subject to the Motor Vehicle Act and the Highway Act (s. 10(1)(o), (p)).

  • Land use planning

    Adopts a municipal plan and zoning by-law and issues development and building permits under the Community Planning Act, directly or through the Regional Service Commission's planning service.

  • Policing

    Cities, towns and villages must make by-laws on police protection; rural communities and regional municipalities may (s. 10(3), (4)). Service is by a municipal or regional police force or the RCMP under contract.

  • Budget and property tax rate

    Adopts the annual budget and sets the local property tax rate, which the Minister approves; the province assesses property and collects the tax (s. 99; Real Property Tax Act). May also impose a tourism accommodation levy by by-law (s. 101.1).

  • Borrowing

    Borrows money for municipal purposes, subject to the Municipal Capital Borrowing Act and limits on borrowing for current operations (s. 100).

Sourced · checked

Sources for what it can do

  • Natural person powers laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • By-laws for safety, nuisances and animals laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Local services and facilities laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Streets and traffic laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Land use planning laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Policing laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Budget and property tax rate laws.gnb.ca · checked
  • Borrowing laws.gnb.ca · checked
Report a problem

Sources

  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Council of The City of Saint John (City), established or continued by Regulation 2022-50 under the Local Governance Act. For: Saint John Common Council
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18: Local Governance Act, ss. 5 and 10. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18: Local Governance Act, s. 2(2). Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18: Local Governance Act, ss. 20.1, 23 and 99(2). Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18: Local Governance Act, s. 99(2). Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18: Local Governance Act, ss. 20.1 and 99(2). Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked french: French form of the title / descriptive name. For: Saint John Common Council in French
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked councils: Local Governance Act, SNB 2017, c. 18 (as consolidated on laws.gnb.ca); Regional Service Delivery Act, SNB 2012, c. 37; Community Planning Act. For: Natural person powers, By-laws for safety, nuisances and animals, Local services and facilities, Streets and traffic, Land use planning and 3 more
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked councils: Local Governance Act ss. 43-44, 48, 54. For: Mayor
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked councils: Seats: Ward 1 2 (municipal site); Ward 2 2 (municipal site); Ward 3 2 (municipal site); Ward 4 2 (municipal site). Sources: municipal council page, Elections NB 2026 results (https://www.electionsnb.ca/content/dam/enb/xls/mun2026/2026-05-11-MUN-Results-Resultats.zip), Regulation 2022-50. For: Councillor
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked councils: Seats: at large 2 (municipal site). Sources: municipal council page, Elections NB 2026 results (https://www.electionsnb.ca/content/dam/enb/xls/mun2026/2026-05-11-MUN-Results-Resultats.zip), Regulation 2022-50. For: Councillor at large
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked Local Governance Act (New Brunswick), S.N.B. 2017, c. 18, s. 48(3)-(4) (laws.gnb.ca, read 2026-10-12). For: Deputy Mayor
  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Mayor, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: Donna Noade Reardon as Mayor
  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Councillor ward 1, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: Sherri Colwell-McCavour as Councillor, Ward 1 (1), Greg Norton as Councillor, Ward 1 (2)
  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Councillor ward 2, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: John MacKenzie as Councillor, Ward 2 (1), Brian Wyatt as Councillor, Ward 2 (2)
  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Councillor ward 3, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: Ryan Moore as Councillor, Ward 3 (1), Eric Savoie as Councillor, Ward 3 (2)
  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Councillor ward 4, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: Paul Dempsey as Councillor, Ward 4 (1), David Merrithew as Councillor, Ward 4 (2)
  • saintjohn.ca · checked councils: Councillor at large, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: Gary Sullivan as Councillor at large, Gina Hooley as Councillor at large
  • saintjohn.ca · checked post named in the note of term 30024; source as recorded for that term: councils: Councillor ward 2, Saint John: listed on the municipal council page, read 2026-10-11; contested seats cross-checked against the Elections NB 2026 results. For: John MacKenzie as Deputy Mayor
  • laws.gnb.ca · checked councils: Local Governance Act s. 54(1): general elections on the second Monday in May for 2026 and every fourth year after (13 May 2030). For: General election, May 13, 2030

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