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October 15, 1996
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

BACKGROUND
Reforming Municipal Government in Newfoundland and Labrador
The Time for Regionalization

Regionalization is designed to strengthen our municipalities and ensure they are structured in a way that enables them to deliver the types of services people will require in the 1990s and beyond.

• It is designed to create strong, accountable local government.
• If properly implemented regionalization will:
• give municipalities new tools to do the jobs -- tools that will allow greater flexibility, innovation and efficiency with respect to the provision of municipal services.
• The integration of services at the regional level will ensure that scarce resources are used for the right purposes.
• Regionalization represents a bold step toward redefining the municipal landscape... it represents a substantive redefinition of local government.
• It also means new ways of sharing services with neighbouring municipalities; less duplication and overlap in the delivery of services; better cost management for service delivery and the elimination of conflicting interests.
• The objectives are to improve service delivery, reduce costs and make government more accountable to taxpayers. It is designed to build on the economic zones concept, which is designed to strengthen and revitalize municipalities, especially rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Government is committed to constructive and meaningful consultation on regionalisation and it is our belief that the public interest will best be served by an effective partnership between the province and municipalities.
• The department wants to study the strengths that each municipality can bring to the regionalization table.
• It is imperative for us to look at innovative methods that will enable municipalities to provide better services and become more responsive to the needs of citizens and save money at the same time.
• The intent and purpose is not to replace existing municipalities.
• While it is accurate to say there will be two layers of local government, it is equally accurate to say each will have their own areas of responsibility. Basically, we are asking communities to cooperate in areas of mutual benefit on a regional basis.
• The regionalization consultation paper will produce more than just another report. We are determined that it will produce an action plan that will enable us to effectively respond to the challenges of the future.