A decision on the request for $2-million in funding from the province towards the renovations at the Saint John City Market could likely be coming within the next couple of months.
That’s according to Fundy the Isles-Saint John West MLA Rick Doucet, who says the decision could even be coming sooner that that. But Doucet is careful to point out that the City Market isn’t the only funding request on the province’s plate.
“This project, the City Market, is very important and it is pegged as a priority but at the same time there’s a lot of you know very meaningful and very wonderful projects that are in front of us that are seeking funding,” Doucet tells us.
He points to the Saint John Field House, the Rothesay Arena and the New Brunswick Museum as examples.
The federal government has already contributed $2-million to the $6-million City Market project but that’s contingent on the execution of an agreement with the province’s Regional Development Corporation. The other $2-million would come from the City.
The renovations to the City Market in the uptown include a new roof, escalator and elevator and improvements to the windows, doors, and heating and lighting.
Saint John mayor Mel Norton has said that ultimately, if the City can’t partner with the province on this project then the City will have to find an alternate way to fund this.
There was a heating line rupture at the market in January of 2014 which caused significant water damage to the north side of the first, second, and third floors of City Market Tower, damaging the Tower’s electrical system.
The City Market is the oldest continuous farmer’s market in Canada.
