Municipal Affairs
November 22, 2016

Supporting Strong Communities

Minister Joyce Introduces Amendments to Municipalities Act

Legislative amendments to the Municipalities Act, 1999 received second reading in the House of Assembly on Monday, November 21. These amendments provide local service districts with the ability to implement civic addressing and to provide greater flexibility for municipalities to dispose of property.

�Our government is making beneficial amendments to empower small communities to do more. By giving authority to local service districts to assign civic addressing, residents in these communities will have house numbers, which will provide the benefit of ease of location for emergency responders and deliveries. By giving communities the chance to donate or sell assets, they have the opportunity to enhance services in their region.�
- The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs

One amendment will give local service districts the authority now held by cities and municipalities to implement a civic addressing system. Local Service District committees will be responsible for notifying residents of assigned house numbers.

The amendment to provide greater flexibility for towns to dispose of personal property will allow municipalities the flexibility to sell or gift personal property such as vehicles and equipment, and to further social or economic development. A circular will be sent to municipalities on the disposal of personal property.

QUICK FACTS

• Legislative amendments to the Municipalities Act, 1999 received second reading the House of Assembly on Monday.
• Local service districts will receive the authority to implement a civic addressing system.
• Municipalities will now have greater flexibility to dispose of personal property to further social or economic development.

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Media contact:

Lynn Robinson Media Relations Manager Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-5449, 691-9466 lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2016 11 22                              9:25 a.m.