The Exhibition Grounds

I've lived across the street from the Fredericton exhibition grounds for 22 years. People always remark that it must be terrible — the noise, the events, the parking. I always tell them that I like it. Sure, the midway is a bit of a spectacle twice a year — but events rarely run late, and I like the activity. A downtown is better when things are happening in it.

The NBEX is an important local institution, embedded in the memories of generations. But as the city has grown, a huge parking lot in the middle of downtown is no longer the best use of the land. Going back to the 1990s, the city and the exhibition association — Ag34, operating as NBEX — have discussed development options. This resulted several years ago in a secondary municipal plan for the grounds and a joint decision-making committee. The secondary plan lays out scenarios that feature a new middle school to replace the aging George Street Middle School, plus opportunities for housing, amenities, and green space — development that would keep people living and working downtown, and make it safer and more vibrant. For a ward that needs housing and a modern school, this isn't just a nice idea. It's the single biggest opportunity we'll see in a generation.

People in Ward 10 are talking about this, and most of them are saying the same thing: this development needs to happen. I'll add that it needs to be done well, and it needs to be done soon. The question is, how do we make it happen.

NBEX has a legal right to the property. The exact nature and value of that right are subject to debate, but the right itself is not. That's why the city is pursuing expropriation rather than simply developing the site. If there were no right, there'd be nothing to expropriate.

Even setting aside the legal issue, NBEX is a community partner that we want to keep. Local agriculture, food security, and passing that knowledge on to the next generation have only become more important. NBEX also supports local nonprofits — through my volunteer work, I've seen that firsthand. They've also taken feedback from the secondary plan engagement process seriously, improving buildings and launching new community events.

As I see it, there are two realistic outcomes. One is where NBEX continues on a smaller footprint as part of the development — that's what's envisioned in the secondary plan. The other is a fair agreement where the city buys NBEX's interest, and NBEX pursues its mission at a different location. A new site might suit some of their needs better — more parking, fewer restrictions on noise and operating hours, and no wellfield constraints — though they'd give up the centrality that makes the grounds appealing as an event space. Depending on how those trade-offs land, NBEX may prefer a full buyout.

So how do we get to those outcomes? Expropriation is on the table. The provincial Expropriations Advisory Officer will produce a report based on the hearing that took place earlier this year. That report could arrive at any time. The report is a recommendation, not a binding judgment — council will receive it and vote on whether to confirm its intention to expropriate. Expropriation is a legitimate tool, but it's not a great tool. A vote to expropriate doesn't mean we'll break ground this summer; it may just mean the start of years of litigation.

Expropriation should motivate bargaining, not substitute for it.

It’s not too late for a negotiated settlement. The parties can negotiate an agreement at any point, before or after the report. A negotiated agreement has major advantages over expropriation — it lets the parties shape the result, and it's quicker and less expensive than going to court. It lets us focus our effort on development, not litigation.

If this decision comes to the next council and I'm at that table, I'll be asking staff for the record. What has the city offered? What has NBEX offered? Have there been real offers and counteroffers, real engagement? If the record shows that the parties have been bargaining in earnest and a resolution doesn't seem possible, I would vote to confirm expropriation. But I would only vote for it if I'm convinced it is the best available path to getting this done.

We need this to move forward. Years of court proceedings don't build a school. They don't build housing. They don't build anything. The value of the opportunity, financially and otherwise, is such that the city and NBEX can both come out ahead. A negotiated solution is the best way to get there.