Appointments announced to the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today announced appointments to the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board, responsible for developing and operating solid waste sites and systems within specified areas on the Northern Peninsula.

The board is comprised of six individuals and one chair. Douglas Mills of St. Anthony has been named chair while Iris Decker of Ship Cove, Mayor Edgar Fillier of Englee, Todd Hedderson of St. Lunaire-Griquet, Mayor Cyril Taylor of Raleigh, Tennis Cassell of Bide Arm and Allan Wilton of Roddickton round out the rest of the board. These appointments are effective for two years with the exception of the chair which will be for three years.

"I congratulate and thank these individuals for their commitment to waste management," said Minister Byrne. "All of these appointees have considerable knowledge of waste management issues and have been instrumental in making the Northern Peninsula a leader in waste management."

In February 2004, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador officially proclaimed the Regional Service Boards Act. This Act provides for formal arrangements for the delivery of regional services that are enforceable under legislation. The Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board was formerly NorPen Waste Management Incorporated. NorPen requested service board status in order to secure their structure, accountability, governance and to ensure long term continuity.

The province strongly supports the regional sharing of services among communities. In the past, management of regional service delivery systems was on an informal or semi-formal arrangement usually with some form of inter-municipal agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the scope of the regional arrangement. Such agreements were not enforceable under legislation. Essentially, this transition of NorPen to a regional service board provides the board with legislation under which to operate.

The Straits and White Bay North MHA Trevor Taylor congratulated all those who worked together on the creation of the first regional board. "A regional approach allows for a more efficient and cost-effective system to deal with waste management," Taylor said. "This form of collaboration and consolidation among communities allows for proper solid waste management servicing to take place for the benefit of the entire area."

Minister Byrne concluded, "The Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board is certainly an example to other areas of Newfoundland and Labrador which may be considering seeking this status under the Regional Service Boards Act. I would encourage other municipalities to look into this system to see how it can and will benefit their region and their residents."

Media contact: Heather MacLean, Communications, (709) 729-1983, 690-2498

2005 06 27                         11:10 a.m.