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Fredericton Expropriation: Housing vs. Exhibition?
24 Feb
Summary
- City seeks to expropriate 12-hectare Exhibition Grounds for housing and a school.
- Negotiations between the city and NB Exhibition Ltd. have failed over a decade.
- An expropriation officer will decide the fate of the land in about a month.
The City of Fredericton is attempting to expropriate the 12-hectare Exhibition Grounds, currently leased to New Brunswick Exhibition Ltd. (NBEX), to develop housing and a middle school.
After more than a decade of unsuccessful negotiations, the city council voted on September 22, 2025, to initiate expropriation proceedings. City lawyers argue that the need for housing and a school outweighs the exhibition's activities.
NBEX has presented multiple development proposals, including accommodations for a school, housing, and the exhibition itself. However, the city rejected the most recent proposal days before a hearing. The organization expressed willingness for continued discussion.
Lawyers for three other businesses on the grounds—Trouw Nutrition Canada, 2 Pats Enterprises, and William's Seafood—argued that their operations are minimal and should not impede the city's development goals.
An expropriation officer is expected to issue a report in approximately one month, determining if the expropriation is necessary, fair, and in the public interest. The city retains the option to withdraw from the takeover before compensation is paid.
