The mayor of the New Brunswick municipality that declared a state of emergency due to unprecedented levels of homelessness – and the recent death of a homeless person – said he was surprised by the dismissive comments regarding this issue from the Minister of the Province.

New Brunswick’s Minister of Public Safety, Chris Austin, said on Tuesday that the state of emergency declared by the Town of Saint Stephen was trivial and disappointing. He pointed out that the death last week was no more serious than a death in a car accident.

In response, Saint Stephen Mayor Alan MacEachern said Austin’s comments lack empathy and downplay the severity of the situation in the small community.

The declaration of the state of emergency accuses the provincial government of failing to provide housing and social services to the area, where there are 70 homeless people in a community of about 4,150 residents. According to the declaration, "one of the public place residents" died last week, a "situation that will become more likely" as winter approaches.

Meanwhile, Saint Stephen Sergeant Scott MacKenzie said police responded to a 41-year-old man needing medical care in Saint Stephen at around 3 a.m. on December 2. Police and emergency responders attended the scene, and the man was transported to the hospital where he died after several hours. MacKenzie did not specify whether the man was homeless.

Austin said on Tuesday that the situation in Saint Stephen “does not constitute an emergency.”

When asked about the recent death, he added: "People die all the time in car accidents. We do not (declare) a state of emergency over vehicles on the road.”

MacEachern also said the municipality had no option but to issue the declaration and pressure the government to use its budget surplus to help fund housing and shelter.

About people sleeping outdoors in cold temperatures, he said: “We need to deal with the urgent matter; this is an emergency.”

Austin also said on Tuesday that federal, provincial, and municipal governments all have a role in addressing homelessness. The minister accused MacEachern of "trying to shirk this responsibility" and suggested that the town provide warm shelter for its homeless residents.

In response, the mayor said the local homelessness committee, of which he is a part, has been working for weeks to prepare a property for temporary shelters, a step approved by the council. MacEachern said the province recently told the municipality that "the property is unsuitable, without any reason for its unsuitability.”

MacEachern also said this step temporarily halted the project.