Mayor presents State of the City Address
Mayor Adam Lordon presents the 2025 State of the City address at the breakfast event hosted by the Greater Miramichi Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Adam Lordon presented his annual State of the City Address at an event hosted by the Greater Miramichi Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
In his address, he highlighted key achievements and celebrations from 2024. He spoke about population growth for the city and the need for more housing and the reasons why the City continues to have housing as a key priority.
Highlighting housing incentive programs, Lordon pointed out it was programs like these that helped secure more funding and allow the City to invest further into supporting the creation of housing units. In 2025, $885,000 will support the creation of 142 housing units (52 affordable units/89 market units).
As of 2024, the revenue realized from the new housing units through the incentive programs has increased the tax base by $12.9 million, and the municipal tax revenue by almost $500,000.
The City of Miramichi is also in the Top 5 in housing starts for Atlantic Canada. In 2024, the Miramichi area saw its housing starts jump to 8.24 per 1,000 residents.
Lordon commended Miramichi Housing Solutions for the December 2024 opening of the new permanent shelter. The new facility has been a transformative moment in helping the homeless population in the community by doubling the number of permanent shelter beds and providing more support services including to support a path to more permanent housing. The new shelter and services came after a lot of hard work by the organization and the partnerships of the three levels of government.
Other highlights included the Eclipse, the Mayor’s visit to Carpiquet, France for a portion of the Anglophone North School Districts North Shore Legacy Tour, the Amazing Race Canada and Truth and Reconciliation Day.
The City welcomed new senior management staff, the launch of a new website and the Voyent Alert, a communication tool to share critical information and everyday updates.
Looking ahead for 2025, Lordon weclomed the recently elected councillors, Peggy Doyle and Guy Richard. Both will be sworn in on Thursday, April 24th at 4 p.m.
Challenges include the effect of tariffs, the federal immigration reforms, dealing with aging infrastructure, municipal reform, healthcare availability and the ongoing delays of the Centennial Bridge project.
Plans and priorities for 2025 include:
•Preparing for the transition to the Multiplex
•Housing development + Labour Force Attraction
•Infrastructure and public space renewal and development
•Develop Growth Plan and Renew Economic Development Strategy
•Celebrate our 30th Anniversary and successes
•Determine Library Long Term Replacement Plan
When speaking about city finances, Lordon said through planning, the City’s reserve fund was built up in anticipation of the Multiplex project. While it is at $34 million, $20 million is committed to construction of the Multiplex. But Lordon pointed out all this has been done without raising taxes.
Over $54 million will be spent on capital projects in 2025 including roads and paving, building renewal and upgrades, new fleet equipment for various departments and water system upgrades and replacements.
Lordon spoke about the collaboration between Natoaganeg and the City of Miramichi on the CEDI project and the visioning for the UPM property and the plans moving forward.
The mayor said regional collaboration with the Greater Miramichi Service Commission was important for the City also. The GMSC has a new CEO, Roberta McIntyre and a new Director of Planning, Justin Forbes. They are now leading an operational review of the Planning Services Department, developing a strategic plan for tourism promotion, operational review and priority setting for Community Development and a regional transportation study.
In closing, Lordon thanked the business community for their work and continued efforts in the City and the Greater Miramichi Region.