Mel Norton loses confidence in transit commission over deficit

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton told an emergency meeting on Friday night that he has lost confidence in the Saint John Transit commission after council uncovered a budget shortfall of at least $400,000.

I have lost a great deal of confidence, if not all confidence. And that's why we're having this meeting today, Norton said on Friday.

The mayor called the emergency meeting after council discovered the service could face a deficit of between $400,000 and $800,000 this year.

Norton did not hide his frustration and disappointment with the citys transit service.

He bluntly told the transit manager: Dont surprise us in November with budget deficits.

Frank McCarey, the general manager of Saint John Transit, said he knew ridership numbers were weak back in March.

You know, I just, I apologize. I wasn't aware you didn't know, McCreary told the mayor at the meeting.

The question of how the deficit will be paid for is now an open debate.

The Saint John mayor said he wants to crush the transit commissions reliance on city taxpayers for bailouts.

However, McCarey warned city councillors that once the commission eliminates routes, it is very difficult to win riders back.

Once you start service reductions, you create a spiral, he said.

Before the meeting wrapped up, McCarey asked the council that he receive the transit commissions budget for next year as soon as possible.

The transit commissioner said that would give him the chance to start planning services, which would likely be reduced, for next year.

The issue of transit funding has been a controversy in several months.

In August, the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1182, which covers Saint John Transit workers, said it was time for Saint John to reconsider how it's treating its bus system.

Tom McGraw said at the time that hewas worried more cuts to bus service are coming and he said the transit commission is already being forced to do more with less.