Regional Services Board Act proclaimed

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, announced today that the Regional Services Board Act has been officially proclaimed. The act allows government to formally establish regional authorities in municipalities which desire to work together to provide improved municipal services.

"A regional approach to service delivery is an excellent step forward for many municipalities," said Minister Byrne. "For those municipalities who want to work as a regional authority, this act will allow them to provide more economical and beneficial services such as regional water supplies, regional sewage disposal systems, regional storm drainage and/or regional solid waste disposal sites. These authorities, which will be comprised of local government representatives, will also have the ability to impose fees and levies as necessary to finance their operations."

In the past, management of regional service delivery systems was on an informal or semi-formal arrangement with some form of inter-municipal agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the co-operative arrangement. They were not enforceable under a legislative regime which impacted on the scope of the regional arrangement. Under the formal structure of the Regional Services Board Act, dealing with large municipal issues will be greatly improved. Essentially, this act formalizes and expands existing regional service provisions.

Currently, there are several waste management committees operating within the province which support this approach and are seeking authority status in order to facilitate regional approaches and responses to waste management. In particular, the waste management committee on the Northern Peninsula is seeking authority status. Likewise, the greater Avalon committee is seeking similar status.

The Provincial Waste Management Strategy recognized the need for regional waste management authorities. It promotes this approach as a way to drastically reduce the number of waste disposal sites while giving municipalities, local service districts and unincorporated communities more say in how their waste management is addressed.

"Government supports the regional sharing of services among municipalities," said Minister Byrne. "However, I want to stress that the regionalization of services is not at all the same as amalgamation. We want the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to have the best possible municipal service available to them. Where it is wanted and beneficial, regional authorities will provide them with just that."

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-1983

2004 02 23                                        1:35 p.m.