June 14, 2012
Amendments Support Continued Implementation of Waste Management Strategy
Legislative amendments introduced in the House of Assembly today to the Regional Service Boards Act and the Municipal Affairs Act by the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs, will support the continued implementation of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy. Amendments will also provide greater consistency between municipal councils and regional service boards.
“Our government announced the implementation of the Provincial Waste Management Strategy in 2007 to ensure effective and efficient management of solid waste in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Minister O’Brien. “Regional service boards play an important role in advancing the strategy by facilitating the provision of municipal services in a way that achieves economies of scale and allows for integrated, regional approaches to service delivery.”
A regional service board is mandated to provide municipal services on a regional basis. These services can include water supply and sewage disposal; solid waste disposal; police and ambulance services; animal control; public transportation; recreational facilities, and fire protection. Three boards have been created in the province: Eastern, Central and Northern Peninsula.
As the implementation of the strategy continues to roll out across the province, additional regional service boards are expected to be created to correspond with established waste management regions.
The Regional Service Boards Act was adopted by the House of Assembly in 1990 but was not proclaimed until 2004. There have been no substantive amendments to the act since 1990. The Municipal Affairs Act was amended in 1995 but did not include clear provisions for oversight of the Regional Service Boards by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Amendments to both pieces of legislation are the result of a legislative review by the Department of Municipal Affairs and incorporate suggestions brought forward by municipal leaders. Amendments to the Regional Service Boards Act include:
- the establishment of sub-regions in a region in order to define the geographical areas from which board members will be drawn;
- the appointment of board members for four years, which is consistent with the terms of municipal councillors;
- consistency with the administrative provisions of the Municipalities Act,
1999 regarding board vacancies, conflict of interest, privileged meetings,
rules of procedure, voting, committees and finance provisions;
- expansion of the authority of boards to include the operation of solid waste management systems; and,
- clarity regarding the charging of user fees.
“The vast majority of our municipal leaders volunteer their time and we are cognizant of their contribution and the need for consistency in how they operate,” said Minister O’Brien. “These amendments will provide that consistency while allowing regional service boards the proper legislative authority to advance the Provincial Waste Management Strategy.”
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Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 693-1865
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
2012 06 14 4:45 p.m.