Province hears arguments for and against expropriation of Fredericton exhibition grounds

The decade-long fight over what to do with the New Brunswick Exhibition Grounds continues.

A mutual agreement is still possible in the decades-long fight for what will become of Fredericton’s exhibition grounds, according to both the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition and city hall. In the meantime, the province’s expropriation officer is mulling arguments for and against expropriating the land.

The city says the land is badly needed for housing and a new school to replace George Street Middle School.

The provincial exhibition says the land was originally gifted to the city under the condition it be used for agricultural purposes.

Fredericton city council voted in favour of buying out the NBEX lease in September order to expropriate the land, which left NBEX officials “blindsided.”

NBEX officials made a proposal to the city just before the hearing, which was ultimately rejected by the city. The NBEX proposal included 12 acres for a school, and up to nine acres each for housing and exhibition space.

Rae Tretiak, executive director of the NBEX, says the organization is still hoping an agreement can be reached directly with the city.

“We are very enthusiastic about the school and the opportunity that would present, and we don’t turn down the housing issue either,” says Tretiak, in an interview. “Our argument is more along the lines of why all at the same time, knowing that development will take stages to carry out.”

In a statement, the city says it will continue to have discussions with NBEX while the expropriation process proceeds.

“The city is now following a formal expropriation process laid out in legislation, and Friday’s hearing was an opportunity for all parties to share their various perspectives on the matter,” says city spokesperson Marley McLellan, in a statement.

“Meanwhile, city staff will continue to negotiate with NBEX to secure the site through mutually agreeable terms. So far, a deal has not been reached. We look forward to a final resolution that will meet the needs of the community.”

The expected timeline for a decision from the province’s expropriation officer is about a month to two-months.

Debate about the future of the NBEX grounds has been ongoing for more than 35 years, with a committee struck in 2021 to formalize discussions.

Last fall, Fredericton City Hall said the committee had delivered “no meaningful progress to date” which prompted the council vote on expropriation.

The property was gifted to the city from the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition Agricultural Society No. 34 for the purposes of holding an agricultural festival each year. A long-standing lease between the city and NBEX is set to expire in 2031.

Late last year, the process of dismantling the site’s 57-year-old grandstand began due to safety concerns first leveled by the city.

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