The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work · The Political Trenches

Full Interview: Atlantic Mayors' Congress

·34 min·2 clips

Reardon says St. John was named the municipality in Canada most at risk for tariffs.

1. The Political Trenches: Local Government At Work focuses on the Atlantic Mayors’ Congress in St. John, New Brunswick, from June 19 to June 21. 2. Ian speaks with Craig Pollitt, Executive Director of the Atlantic Mayors Congress, and Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon, who matters because she is hosting the meeting. 3. The episode asks what the Atlantic Mayors’ Congress is for and why Atlantic municipal leaders still need a regional forum outside the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. 4. Pollitt says the Congress started in about 2001 when the Halifax mayor and fewer than 10 municipalities wanted a public voice on regional issues. 5. He says the early membership limit of about 50,000 residents was dropped because small municipalities faced many of the same issues as larger urban centres. 6. Pollitt says the core group stayed around 20 participating municipalities for years, then grew to about 40 representatives for the St. John meeting. 7. He notes that the municipalities remain consistent even when the mayors change, because the seat at the table stays with the municipality. 8. Pollitt distinguishes the Congress from FCM by saying the Atlantic meeting gives a specific regional perspective on issues that may also appear nationally. 9. He points to the Chignecto Isthmus and housing as examples of subjects that have appeared on the agenda in recent years. 10. This year’s agenda includes economic development, collaboration, immigration, fleet electrification, net zero, Canada Games planning, incivility, Atlantic advocacy, and U.S. trade. 11. Pollitt says the immigration session will connect immigration to economic development and settlement challenges. 12. He says federal immigration announcements last year felt different in Atlantic Canada than in other parts of the country. 13. Pollitt says the Canada Games sessions will include the 2025 games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the 2029 bid for St. John and Moncton. 14. He says organizers want the games to build legacy and capacity in host municipalities. 15. Pollitt says St. John Energy will speak about fleet electrification and net zero, while regional development agencies will discuss collaboration on economic growth. 16. He says incivility keeps coming up and the Saturday morning workshop is designed to address it. 17. Pollitt describes the Congress as a flexible venue that can become more conference-like, with panels and expert discussion, rather than just a meeting. 18. Reardon says St. John was named by the National Chamber of Commerce as the municipality most at risk for tariffs and says uncertainty affects buying decisions, pensions, and municipal planning. 19. The interview tone is practical and policy-focused, with Pollitt giving institutional context and Reardon speaking in concrete local terms about trade, ports, and downtown St. John. 20. Listeners interested in Atlantic municipal politics, trade corridors, and regional collaboration will get the most from it, while listeners wanting party politics or a fast-moving news recap may skip it.

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