Mayor Danny Breen: St. John’s mayor embracing collaboration in race for a third term
St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen has announced that he will be seeking re-election for the city's top job this October. Photo: City of St. John's
He had other options, and he considered them, but Danny Breen has decided he wants to keep his current job – mayor of the City of St. John’s, Nfld.
Earlier this month, Breen announced his intention to stand for re-election in this fall’s municipal election. A key reason for the decision is his love for being mayor and the excitement he has for what a third term could bring.
“I love the job. Our city is a growing city. It’s rich in culture, in heritage, and is known for its hospitality and friendliness,” Breen said. “And being the mayor of the oldest city in North America is an honour and a privilege. So I’m looking forward to the challenges of the next four years.”
Right Time, Right Message
Whenever finishing up a second term, Breen said, it’s natural to start looking at different options. There was some thought to running for a different order of government – and he had overtures – but his decision came down to the challenges that face St. John’s today.
Those challenges, Breen said, are the same ones that other cities are facing. If one looks at any of the city’s resident satisfaction surveys – or any of materials and surveys that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities have done – affordability, public safety, mental health and addictions, and housing are the key issues of today.
Breen said the country is in the middle of a crisis when it comes to addictions and public safety. And given his passion for his community, he looked forward to leading a council dedicated to facing those issues.
As for the timing of his announcement, well that came down to the number of people who were speculating about his potential provincial run. And so, Breen said he owed it to people to make his announcement in a timely manner.
“It’s important for people that are running to know who’s running for the leadership positions,” Breen said. “I owed it to people who were considering this and if that did factor into their decision one way or the other, to run for a council position, they should know now so they could make their decision accordingly.”
Collaboration is Key
As municipal governance becomes more complex, Breen underscores the importance of adaptability, open-minded leadership, and collaboration. In a city constrained by outdated legislative and fiscal frameworks, he also emphasizes the need for modernization.
“We’re trying to deal with modern day, modern city issues using antiquated legislation and antiquated fiscal frameworks,” Breen said. “We haven’t been allowed to change with the times, and the times require something different now.”
Breen advocates for collaborative leadership, especially in a diverse and nonpartisan council environment. With no party lines in Newfoundland and Labrador’s municipal politics, he believes in the power of consensus and inclusivity.
After all, on a council with 11 voices, 6-5 votes “aren’t that great.” But 8-3 or 9-2 votes are outcomes that can be expected. And that, Breen said, leads to what can be considered “a fairly good decision.”
Breen’s approach to leadership is guided by listening and humility. He stresses the value of recognizing when feedback calls for re-evaluation and even reversal of decisions – an attitude he sees as vital for building trust and responsiveness.
Drawing inspiration from former U.S. president John Kennedy, Breen said effective leadership sometimes means stepping back and allowing others to step forward.
“When you look around the table, we’ve got a whole lot of different skill sets on a very diverse council,” Breen said. “Sometimes it’s not you that’s leader, sometimes it’s somebody else that may be better suited to fit into that role. Recognizing that and getting council to rally around that is important.”
New Municipal Political Partnerships
Breen is raising concerns about the overlap of municipal and provincial elections in Newfoundland and Labrador. With municipal elections scheduled for Oct. 2 and the provincial vote mandated by Oct. 14, he warns that “people have to make a decision between do I run municipally and or do I run provincially.”
This clash, he said, is a major obstacle to encouraging civic participation. As he notes, it is difficult enough these days to get people to run. Time will tell, he said, how that impact will play out.
Beyond the elections, Breen reflects on the evolving nature of municipal governance.
Social media and public expectations have shifted the focus from infrastructure to broader social issues such as public safety, homelessness, and addiction – areas often outside municipal authority. He points to the challenge of operating a modern municipality without sufficient resources as being particularly problematic.
As such, Breen advocates for deeper collaboration across all orders of government.
His suggestion – and hardly a surprising one considering his push for collaboration – is a national convention around municipal-provincial-federal co-operation.
“We need now to have a national convention on the orders of government to talk about how we interact together,” Breen said. “The residents don’t see these differences in jurisdiction. They want you to solve the problem. I think we could all do with a sit down at a very high level nationally and talking about how these orders may not be the best way to address the problems that we face today.”
Embracing Community Connections
Like many a municipal politician, Breen has often found himself engaged in political debates while getting his groceries. But being approached by residents – even outside of what might be called business hours – is something he enjoys.
Breen calls these types of moments his “Costco consultation.” But given it is where he often gets “the real skinny on stuff,” he typically doesn’t mind these conversations.
People – and especially Newfoundlanders, he suggests – will often tell you right then and there what they think about the issues of the day. And that, he adds, is something he looks forward to as mayor.
In fact, it’s what he considers “the good part” of the job.
“A big part of this job is listening. It’s listening to people, hearing what their concerns are, and it’s amazing,” Breen said. “The things that we see, and the things that we see as important, those trends are the ones that people are talking to you about. The public are very keen on what the issues are and they’re looking for them to be solved. We try our best to address them.”
Looking to the Years Ahead
Come election night, and should things go his way, Breen said he is looking forward to not only expanding local infrastructure but also nurturing a sense of belonging for residents.
Among the top priorities is the construction of a secondary wastewater treatment plant – an estimated $500-million project that will need strategic planning to be delivered on time and on budget.
Beyond major builds, mobility and accessibility are also front and centre, Breen said. St. John’s is finalizing its shared-use path system. They system is designed to accommodate bicycles, strollers, wheelchairs, and pedestrians. In a city known for its historic layout and rugged terrain, Breen said this achievement represents a significant step forward in inclusive design.
Public transit has also seen a surge in use. The system has seen one million more riders than pre-COVID figures – a testament, Breen said, to renewed community engagement and improved service.
Yet infrastructure alone doesn’t define progress. The deeper mission, Breen said, is to create a place where residents feel rooted and secure.
“We’re developing and continuing to build our city. That’s building a city where you can make a living, raise your family, but one where you belong. And belonging is important to us,” Breen said. “We want to have a city where people feel they’re safe and where they can enjoy the great amenities that we have here.” MW
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Sean Meyer’s article: Sheilagh O’Leary: Taking risks, championing change despite the pressures.
Sean Meyer is digital content editor for Municipal World.
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