A plan to create red zones in Saint John where encampments are banned is getting both harsh criticism and strong support from various interests.
Saint John plans to create ‘red zones,’ where homeless encampments would not be allowed
Jennifer Sweet · CBC News
· Posted: Sep 13, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
A developer says his new housing project on Waterloo Street in Saint John is losing prospective tenants because they feel unsafe in the area. (Graham Thompson/CBC)
A plan to create red zones in Saint John where encampments are banned is getting both harsh criticism and strong support from various interests.
A group that provides services to the homeless population says it wants nothing to do with the plan and thinks its consequences will be dire, while a developer welcomes the plan and hopes it will help save the uptown area.
“It is absolutely atrocious,” said Melanie Vautour of Fresh Start Services, vowing that its outreach team will not be party to removing encampments. “It will lead to death. Period.”
Current conditions can’t continue, said Kevin McDonald of Steepleview Developments.
“I go to Waterloo Street every day and I have to stop and let the drug people walk across, stop, give me the finger, curse and holler.
“How much do we have to put up with?”
Vautour said she and her colleagues were shocked when they received the red zone plan late Friday,
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