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NLIS 8
May 9, 2000
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)


New Urban and Rural Planning Act

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today outlined a new Urban and Rural Planning Act for the province. At a news conference with representatives of stakeholder groups, the minister said the new Act will give municipalities greater freedom, flexibility and autonomy to more effectively manage their own affairs.

"This new Act has been developed in close consultation with key stakeholders of the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs," said the minister. "I would like to recognize Mayor Derm Flynn, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, Mike Pinsent, -past president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators, and Dr. Patricia Hempstead, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities for the valuable input of their organizations.

The Urban and Rural Planning Act is the enabling legislation which:

establishes the province�s land use planning system;

allows the preparation of a range of planning documents;

provides for their approval and implementation and;

provides for public input and an appeal process whereby 
development decisions can be subjected to independent review.

The minister said the introduction of this legislation is an important milestone for the department because over the past several years, the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs has focused on ensuring that municipalities have the necessary "tools" in the way of legislation, financial, administrative and communications supports to respond to challenges and effectively serve their residents. The new Urban and Rural Planning Act will be accompanied by a substantial training initiative as well as an education and awareness campaign.

Development of the new Act has been subjected to an extensive review and consultation process for the past several years. It has taken into account a number of emerging issues such as the need for greater autonomy for municipalities, the desire for public involvement in the development of local planning policy, the need to provide a level of protection for private property rights, and the changing role of the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.

The new Act:

is a more user-friendly piece of legislation;

expands municipal authority to make land use and development policy;

permits a greater degree of local decision making;

minimizes provincial involvement in municipal planning;

increases the flexibility of the municipal planning system so that it is    better suited to both large and small municipalities;

expands opportunities for public input and consultation at all levels;

establishes province-wide bench marks for equitable and fair

planning administration;

provides for the recovery of costs for planning administration and development;

facilitates inter-provincial co-operation and regional planning;

provides for the making of provincial land use policies; and

streamlines time frames.

The minister said government recognizes that the future growth, development and prosperity of the province as a whole will depend upon strong and vibrant municipalities. She added that this new Act will allow municipalities to participate in the planning process in a way that will let them more effectively manage change, with increased public involvement.

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Communications, (709) 729-1983.

2000 05 09                                         5:00 p.m.


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