Opening a warming center in Tracadie is difficult

Citizens of the Six Roads sector, in Tracadie, in northeastern New Brunswick, are organizing a second meeting in two weeks on Monday evening to discuss a future emergency warming center.

A month ago, the City of Tracadie purchased a residence on Route 11, which it wishes to transform into a shelter for homeless people.

This acquisition is only a first step and there is no indication that individuals in need will have a warm and safe place to stay at night this winter.

There is still a long way to go, confirms the mayor of Tracadie, Denis Losier. There are many questions that remain to be discovered, many questions that remain to be developed, to be able to open a warming centerhe declared.

Certain resistance movement

We will have to find workers to operate the center, but there is also the question of social acceptability.

Citizens criticized the project during an information meeting that attracted nearly 70 people two weeks ago.

This is not a new fact. As soon as we talk about homelessness and homeless people, there is a certain movement of resistancenote Denis Losier.

A second public meeting will take place Monday evening at the Ste-Rose Community Center.

Councilors regret their vote

Reached by telephone, the organizer of this meeting, Patrick Legault, believes that the shelter should be located in the city center, near services.

He accuses the City of having lacked transparency in purchasing the house from Six Roads without consulting citizens.

He also filed a complaint with the City, the Minister of Local Governance and the New Brunswick Ombudsman.

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Added to this are now disagreements in the municipal council. However, Tracadie councilors voted unanimously on December 9 to purchase the targeted residence.

Since then, four councilors have publicly expressed reservations. I regret my voteone of them even declared, Geoffrey Saulnier, before Christmas.

According to the report by Réal Fradette