Local Service Districts (LSDs) given discretionary authority to provide road
maintenance and snow clearing services for class 4 roads

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, announced today that the province�s Local Service Districts (LSDs) now have the discretionary authority to provide road maintenance and snow clearing services for class 4 roads within their boundaries. LSDs are under no obligation to provide these services for class 4 roads, however they have the option to provide it if they choose to do so.

"While LSDs are under no obligation to provide these services, they will certainly be beneficial in some areas of the province. This decision shows that government understands the unique situation residents who live in LSDs find themselves regarding snow clearing and road maintenance," said Minister Byrne. "LSDs already have the ability to offer a number of services such as water and sewer, street lighting, fire protection, garbage collection and animal control to their residents."

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, stated that government will continue to provide road maintenance on the roads for which it maintains responsibility. This includes approximately 9,500 kilometres of primary, secondary and community roads throughout the province.

Minister Rideout said, "Road safety and maintenance is a priority with our government. We believe that granting Local Service Districts the authority to provide snow clearing and highway maintenance services will result in a safe, reliable and improved highway network for all road users. Our government continues to focus on ways to deliver more effective transportation services to the people of our province and to invest in our highway infrastructure."

Local Service Districts are municipal entities which were established in the early 1980s. They are authorized to provide a limited number of basic municipal services in communities that are generally speaking too small to warrant municipality status. There are approximately 180 of these entities in the province. Unlike municipalities, Local Service Districts do not have taxation powers but rather are authorized to impose and collect user fees for the services they provide.

Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983, 682-6593
Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Transportation and Works, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403

2005 05 24                                   12:20 p.m.