The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment:
We have met with the Eastern Regional Service Board to discuss the public’s concerns regarding the board’s waste collection fees and practices in unincorporated areas. As the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, I have indicated that residents should not be charged such waste collection fees if the board is not willing to provide the appropriate services in return.
Throughout the meeting, the board maintained that it does not have the authority under the Regional Service Boards Act 2012 to vary its fees among service users; they also maintained that the variation in fees as applied by other regional service boards was in violation of the legislation.
The Provincial Government has determined that this is incorrect, and we can confirm that there is nothing in the legislation to prohibit regional service boards from defraying expenses through the assessment of differential fees within categories of service users. The manner in which the services are being provided and by which the costs are defrayed is based on the direction of the board.
Our government supports proper waste management practices, and we will continue our work to protect the environment and the health and safety of residents.
– 30 –
Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca