Fredericton City Council’s Public Safety Committee heard updates from provincial officials today on recommendations included in the Mayor’s Community Safety Task Force report aimed at improving public safety and quality of life for Fredericton residents.
Senior officials from the Departments of Justice and Public Safety, Health, Social Development and Housing New Brunswick say work is underway to improve access to housing, mental health and addictions support for vulnerable New Brunswickers, and expand options for police and justice officials to manage those who come into conflict with the law.
“We appreciate the work our partners are doing to address community safety challenges that are outside the City’s mandate,” said Mayor Kate Rogers, Co-chair of the Community Safety Task Force. “Homelessness and its related safety challenges require leadership, commitment and solutions from all levels of government. Working together is the best way to tackle this crisis.”
The Public Safety Committee meeting is available online.
During 2024-2025 the Mayor’s Community Safety Task force brought together 18 representatives from government, health care, residents, non-profit organizations and business to respond to community concerns.
Focusing on justice, policing, mental health, addictions and homelessness, the task force report proposes 47 immediate and long-term actions to address the city’s most pressing social challenges.
Of the 30 recommendations led by the Government of New Brunswick and Horizon Health, all are in progress (see full list below). Sixteen recommendations are led by the City of Fredericton, with one led by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
An oversight committee comprised of representatives of municipal, provincial and partner organizations reports quarterly on progress to the city’s Public Safety Committee. The next update is anticipated for early 2026.
“The City has invested significantly in front-line policing, crime prevention, and public safety education. We are pleased to hear progress from the province on areas of their jurisdiction, including mental health, housing and addictions support,” said Public Safety Committee Chair Eric Megarity. “Working together, we are building a safer community for our residents.”
More information on the Community Safety Task Force recommendations, including progress updates, and other targeted actions the City is taking to improve community safety can be found online.
Full list of provincial recommendations considered to be in progress, by department and agency:
Department of Justice and Public Safety
- Reducing police time at hospitals through care coordination.
- Expanding mental health courts province-wide
- Exploring bail reform for repeat offenders
- Mandating planned discharge from incarceration to housing/treatment
Department of Social Development
- Sharing best practices across all levels of government to address homelessness
- Building a cross-government plan to address service gaps in the housing spectrum
- Engaging stakeholders to define services needed for unhoused individuals
- Accessing and addressing legislation and regulation gaps for youth aged 16 to 18
- Creating temporary bridge housing to avoid discharging patients into homelessness
- Providing funding for the 12 Neighbours Courtyard Concept
- Developing a housing continuum integrated with mental health and addictions services
- Budgeting sustainable funding for wraparound and supportive services using a collaborative care model
- Expanding homelessness diversion program
Housing NB
- Facilitating the building of 200 ultra-low-barrier transitional housing units.
- Developing an achievable plan to increase supply across all housing types, including supportive options.
Department of Health
- Sharing best practices across all levels of government to address substance use disorders
- Sharing best practices across all levels of government to address issues relating to mental health
- Reviewing the accountability structure between the Department of Health, Horizon Health board and Horizon Health Network Regional Health Authority to enable effective delivery of Mental Health and Addictions services.
- Conducting a community needs-based assessment to identify service gaps in the mental health continuum
- Training businesses/residents in de-escalation and safety awareness
- Increasing mental health and addiction support services in correctional facilities
- Recruiting and retaining sufficient specialized mental health and addiction staff
- Improving access to consistent primary and mental health care
- Expanding detox bed availability and increasing length of stays
- Expanding rehab bed availability
- Developing a plan for operationalization and funding structure for a community-based treatment centre as proposed in partnership with John Howard Society and Horizon Health Network.
Horizon Health
- Renewing a public sharps disposal program
- Providing access to 24/7 treatment to stabilize those in crisis so that treatment is available when patients seek it, before they offend
- Expanding mobile crisis unit to 24/7 and integrating with other support services
- Building stabilization programs that connect to transitional housing