January 6, 1999
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

New year brings new approach to municipal relations

Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Lloyd Matthews said today that the provincial department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities have committed to establishing a strong working relationship and will work closer to meet challenges facing municipalities in the province in the future.

Mr. Matthews met yesterday with Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities President Sam Synard. As the organization representing 257 of the 290 municipalities in the province, the NLFM represents the majority of municipalities in the province. Mr. Matthews said that the meeting with Mr. Synard was extremely productive and encouraging and that they both share the view that there is an opportunity for the NLFM to assume a greater role in working with the province to address the challenges that face municipalities in the province.

Mr. Matthews said: "Mr. Synard and I have agreed to begin a process whereby he and his organization take the lead role in developing concepts or ideas that will assist municipalities in the province. We believe that if the NLFM can act as a catalyst in bringing forward new initiatives designed to help its members, they have a better chance of success. In that sense, we see a more proactive role for the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities in the future. It would be helpful, and I think very productive, to hear suggestions and ideas from the municipalities themselves on how to get better value for the money that is being spent. This cooperative approach, being driven from the ground up, should yield better results in the future. I have committed to ensure that we will do what we can to facilitate the implementation of these ideas where it makes sense to do so."

Mr. Synard said he is pleased that the province has committed to meet with the NLFM on a regular basis to discuss issues and ideas that could assist municipalities facing various challenges they face in the province. Mr. Matthews indicated that while there may not necessarily be more money available to the municipalities in the province, there must be an effective process in place so that stakeholders may work together to decide the best way to spend the limited dollars available.

The minister said that he understands the difficulties that are facing many of the municipalities today in the province. He said: "Many of these councils are faced with delivering services based on expectations from past years against the backdrop of declining revenues and taxing capacity. We recognize that these problems are real and are not easily solved. That is why Mr. Synard and I have committed to work together to build a strong relationship between the provincial government and the federation that will benefit all municipalities in the province."

Contact:

John Doody, Director of Communications, (709) 729-3142

Sam Synard, (709) 279-1072

1999 01 06 3:05 p.m.