Tantramar did not ‘ease’ into 2025
From the first council meetings in January, residents were already engaged, with active public question periods and full agendas.
Residents showed up with concerns around housing, the environment, power, the arts and more.
This article is Part 1 of CHMA News three-part Tantramar in 2025: According to CHMA News roundup
In Part 1, I’ve looked back at local stories from January through April. Parts 2 and 3 will follow in early 2026.
Listen to the story below:
For all of January and February, Erica Butler was the sole journalist covering Tantramar for CHMA, approaching more than five years of local reporting. At the end of February, Lara MacMillan and Clinton Davis joined the station, beginning training under CBC award-winning journalist Tori Weldon, alongside Butler.
Governance questions surfaced early
Many major issues early in the year were first discussed at Committee of the Whole meetings, where council reviews items but does not make final decisions. Those same items then returned later to regular council meetings for formal votes.
Residents asked whether decisions had actually been made, what had changed since earlier discussions, and why the same issues kept coming back. While councillors and staff described the process as normal, some residents following closely, especially on housing, development and environment, called it confusing and frustrating.
By February, governance itself had become part of the story, as council debated how strictly to apply rules around deadlines, eligibility, and discourse around how strongly they should feel obliged to abide by staff recommendations. Only two years in, council appeared to be wrestling with the new challenges amalgamation had brought.
Housing pressures were already visible
Housing concerns were present early in the year. In January, close to 100 people attended a public housing session in Tantramar, raising concerns about affordability, development and planning.
Those concerns carried into council discussions through the winter and spring, including debate over a late application for a $180,000 tax rebate tied to the former pipe factory on Walker Road. The application, submitted nearly two and a half years after the deadline by Right Coast Realty and the AIL Group, was ultimately rejected on legal advice.
Smaller decisions added to a cautious tone
Not all proposals advanced. A planned off-leash dog park was shelved after concerns about disease, liability and location. A proposed vegetation bylaw also failed to gain council support.
While smaller in scope, those decisions added to a sense that council was proceeding carefully through the early months of the year.
Governance issues beyond Tantramar
Governance challenges were not limited to Tantramar. At Strait Shores, months of turbulence included the three time resignation of councillor Stacy Jones, and mediation efforts to repair what was described as a fractured relationship between council and staff.
Public conflict involving councillor Andy MacGregor added to the instability and the situation ultimately led the Province of New Brunswick to appoint an administrator to oversee municipal operations, after mediation efforts.
In Tantramar, council also began discussing a proposed code of conduct that would allow for stronger reprimands, including suspension.
According to CBC, it was recently revealed that these actions may not have been legal.
Climate, arts and community life continued
Climate and environmental issues continued to be part of the conversation. Tantramar continued work on a three-year strategic planning process, while the town’s Climate Change Advisory Committee pushed council to consider long-term emissions goals and energy costs.
Arts, culture and community life continued alongside policy debates. The Owens Art Gallery partnered with the Smithsonian on an exhibition of work by Edward Mitchell Bannister. Mount Allison University outlined a $95-million plan for a new library and multisport complex, while its ECAB Lab continued research into New Brunswick’s DDT legacy.
Health and social services also featured prominently, including the launch of Nursing Home Without Walls in Sackville, new training programs at the Sackville Memorial Hospital, and ongoing concerns about emergency response times.
A year already in motion
By the end of April, Tantramar had already spent months grappling with governance, housing, climate, energy and community concerns.
That context helps explain why later debates around what became the ‘story of the year in 2025’ (read part II) did not come out of nowhere.
Many residents cared deeply, primarily older adults, and were heavily invested in their municipality.
In Part II, we’ll take you through the summer in Tantramar; according to CHMA NEWS.
Questions, comments, corrections? Email news@chmafm.com. For direct contact, clintondavis@chmafm.com
