Setting the Record Straight on Homelessness

There isn’t a single path forward on homelessness in Miramichi; but there is a way to move forward together.

I’m aware that there are people in our community, including some working directly in homelessness, who feel that I don’t support them; or worse, that I’m against them.

That’s not accurate. And I’m not going to let that assumption define where I stand.

This issue has been pulled in two directions, and neither approach on its own is working. When you speak about impacts on businesses, neighbourhoods, or public safety, some take that as a lack of compassion. On the other side, when people advocate strongly for support services, it can be seen as dismissing the concerns of the broader community.

That divide isn’t helping anyone, and it’s not how we move forward.

Over the past two years, I’ve been part of the Homelessness Advisory Board, sitting in on the conversations, listening to service providers, and working through the realities of this issue alongside others at the table. What I’ve seen is that this is far more complex than it’s often presented publicly.

There are no easy answers here. But there are better ways to work together than what we’re seeing right now.

Let me be very clear about where I stand.

I do not believe in writing people off. Individuals experiencing homelessness are part of our community, and they deserve dignity, support, and real pathways forward.

I also believe that residents and businesses deserve to feel safe, supported, and heard in their own community.

Those two things are not in conflict, but they do require leadership that is willing to hold both at the same time.

There’s also been a lot of focus on comments I made about Queen Elizabeth Park. Let me be direct about that. The situation there involved serious biohazards, including human waste, used needles, blood, and drug paraphernalia. Describing those conditions is not about labeling people. It’s about being honest about a public health risk that had to be addressed. That is not a political talking point, it’s a public health issue.

Raising the possibility of temporary fencing was about allowing proper cleanup and remediation to happen safely. It was an immediate response to a hazardous environment, not a dismissal of the deeper challenges around homelessness. We don’t solve complex issues by ignoring what’s right in front of us. We deal with the urgent risks, and at the same time, we stay committed to addressing the root causes.

I’ve spoken about impacts because they are real and visible in our community. Ignoring them doesn’t help anyone. But that does not mean I am unwilling to work alongside the organizations doing the hard work on the ground. In fact, the opposite is true; we need stronger alignment, not distance.

As mayor, I will work with frontline organizations, not against them. But I will also expect coordination, accountability, and a shared commitment to outcomes that improve conditions for everyone.

This issue is too important for assumptions and misinterpretation to define it.

If we’re going to make progress, we need to be willing to sit at the same table, even when the conversations are difficult.

That’s the standard I will bring to this role.

t.g.