WHEREAS the Statements of Gross Revenue from some utility companies have significantly decreased over the past several years,
WHEREAS Section 2 (h) of the Utilities and Cable Television Companies Act does not recognize Internet/Data as a utility and municipalities are not able to obtain Statements of Gross Revenue from utility companies for the provision of Internet/Data,
WHEREAS some utility companies are providing more of their services through the internet, ie. Television and home telephone, municipalities are seeing a large decrease in the amount of utility tax they are able to charge and collect,
WHEREAS the provision of Internet/Data services is where most of these utility companies generate the majority of their revenue,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland & Labrador lobby the Department of Finance to amend Section 2 (h) of the Utilities and Cable Television Companies Act to include Internet/Data under the definition of the word “Utility” so that municipalities of the Province are able to tax this utility and gain much needed tax revenue.
Staff Comments: This is a renewal of the request Peterview brought forward through 02-2023. MNL’s 2024 update showed that work was still in progress
WHEREAS municipalities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador own and operate recreational facilities, including arenas, swimming pools, arts and cultural facilities, civic centres, and other facilities that are regional in nature, that serve residents from across multiple municipalities, unincorporated areas, and the broader region;
AND WHEREAS the municipalities that own and operate these regional recreational facilities bear significant costs associated with their operation, maintenance, staffing, and long-term capital requirements;
AND WHEREAS these facilities provide important recreational, social, health, and community benefits to residents throughout their respective regions, including residents of neighbouring municipalities and unincorporated areas that may not contribute directly toward the costs of operating these facilities;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador lobby the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a dedicated provincial funding program for municipalities that own and operate recreational facilities serving a regional population;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province establish clear eligibility and funding criteria that recognize factors such as regional usage, population served, operating costs, and the financial contribution of the host municipality, with funding available to help offset the costs associated with providing these regional recreational services.
Staff Comments: Similar tone to the 05-2024 resolution for equitable distribution of recreation infrastructure investment across NL. However, there’s an important difference. This submission is about the ongoing cost of operating facilities that serve regions.
WHEREAS large-scale industrial, energy, mining, infrastructure, and resource development projects can generate significant economic benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador while increasing demand for municipal and regional infrastructure and services;
WHEREAS municipalities are responsible for providing and maintaining essential infrastructure and services, including water and wastewater, roads, solid waste management, emergency services, recreation, and other community infrastructure;
WHEREAS the infrastructure and service requirements associated with major development can exceed the financial capacity of affected municipalities and place additional pressure on municipal taxpayers;
WHEREAS municipalities and regions affected by major development require predictable and timely access to funding to plan, design, construct, and expand infrastructure in advance of increased demand;
WHEREAS dedicated regional infrastructure funding would help ensure that communities are adequately prepared to support major development and population growth;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) lobby the Provincial Government to establish a dedicated regional infrastructure funding mechanism for municipalities and regions impacted by large-scale development projects;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the funding mechanism include contributions from the Provincial Government and, where appropriate, project proponents, based on the anticipated infrastructure and service impacts of major development;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT funding be made available early enough to allow affected municipalities and regions to undertake necessary planning, design, construction, and expansion of infrastructure before significant project activity or population growth occurs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL advocate for eligible investments to include water and wastewater infrastructure, roads and transportation, solid waste management, housing-related infrastructure, emergency services, community safety, recreation and community facilities, and other infrastructure required to support sustainable regional growth.
Staff Comments: This resolution was presented by the Urban Municipalities Caucus
WHEREAS large-scale industrial, energy, mining, infrastructure, and resource development projects can create significant economic opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador while increasing demand for municipal infrastructure and services;
WHEREAS major developments can result in population growth and increased demand for water and wastewater infrastructure, roads, transportation, housing, solid waste management, emergency services, recreation, and other community services;
WHEREAS municipalities and regions require timely information about the anticipated impacts of major developments to plan for infrastructure, services, and population growth;
WHEREAS proactive regional impact assessments would support better coordination among the Provincial Government, municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, project proponents, and other regional stakeholders;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) lobby the Provincial Government to establish a formal process for assessing the regional infrastructure and service impacts of major development projects before project approval or commencement;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the process include consultation with affected municipalities and regions and assess anticipated impacts on municipal and regional infrastructure and services, including water and wastewater, roads and transportation, housing, solid waste, emergency services, community safety, recreation, and other services required to support anticipated growth; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL advocate for the results of regional impact assessments to be used to inform provincial and municipal infrastructure planning, investment decisions, project agreements, and other measures necessary to prepare communities for major development.
WHEREAS municipalities serve as planning authorities under the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000 and are required to participate in appeals arising from municipal planning and development decisions;
WHEREAS the development appeal process can require municipalities to assemble substantial records, dedicate significant staff resources, and obtain professional or legal assistance in responding to appeals;
WHEREAS section 46 of the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000 prohibits development and related work from proceeding while an appeal is pending, and the Province currently advises that an appeal may take approximately four to eight months from registration to the scheduling of a hearing;
WHEREAS section 43 of the Act permits an adjudicator to dismiss an appeal without a hearing where the subject matter is outside the adjudicator’s jurisdiction, but municipalities may nevertheless be required to respond to and provide records respecting an appeal before a jurisdictional determination is made; and
WHEREAS an efficient and proportionate appeal process should preserve legitimate appeal rights while minimizing unnecessary costs, delays, and uncertainty for municipalities, applicants, property owners, and residents;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for a review and reform of the development appeal process under the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000 to improve timeliness, proportionality, and administrative efficiency;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the review include:
Staff Comments: 06-2016 Appeal Boards- There’s a clear connection to 06-2016 on Appeal Boards, particularly the request for early screening of matters outside the board’s jurisdiction. This submission also addresses timelines, documentation, preliminary decisions and the automatic stay on development. Amendments were announced Dec 2024. The appeals process had review in 2022 according to the NL Law Society and those amendments saw adjudicators placed.
WHEREAS municipalities are responsible for promoting public safety and managing local roadways and are increasingly required to respond to concerns involving unsafe traffic and off-road vehicle activity within municipal boundaries;
AND WHEREAS section 189 of the Highway Traffic Act provides for the delegation of certain traffic regulation-making powers to municipalities and permits municipalities to appoint peace officers to enforce regulations made under that delegated authority;
AND WHEREAS section 15 of the Off-Road Vehicles Act permits municipalities to regulate the operation of off-road vehicles on highways within their jurisdiction, while enforcement of provincial offences under the Highway Traffic Act and Off-Road Vehicles Act remains principally a provincial policing responsibility;
AND WHEREAS municipalities with trained enforcement personnel could supplement existing policing resources by enforcing prescribed traffic and off-road vehicle offences of a local public-safety nature, provided appropriate provincial training, designation, oversight and limitations are established;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to amend or otherwise establish the necessary legislative and regulatory framework to permit appropriately trained and provincially designated municipal enforcement officers to enforce specified provisions of the Highway Traffic Act and Off-Road Vehicles Act within their municipal boundaries;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT participation in such a framework be optional for municipalities and subject to provincially established training, certification, operational standards, enforcement authorities and accountability requirements.
Staff Comments: There have been several challenges with enforcement in many communities throughout the province. This will apply to communities with enforcement officers and the capacity to enforce the legislation. An earlier resolution, 02-2016, focused on municipal ATV powers. We recommend retaining the provisions making participation optional and requiring provincial training, designation and accountability.
WHEREAS Inuit Community Governments (ICGs) are an important part of the municipal government system in Newfoundland and Labrador and provide essential local governance and services to communities throughout Nunatsiavut;
WHEREAS ICGs operate within a unique governance environment, with responsibilities and relationships involving the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Nunatsiavut Government;
WHEREAS the unique governance structure, geographic realities, regional needs, and service delivery arrangements within Nunatsiavut can differ significantly from those experienced by other municipalities in the Province;
WHEREAS some programs, services, funding opportunities, and supports available to municipalities elsewhere in Newfoundland and Labrador may not be available or accessible to ICGs due to the distinct governance and service delivery arrangements within Nunatsiavut;
WHEREAS effective municipal advocacy requires an understanding of the distinct circumstances and priorities of ICGs and meaningful opportunities for Inuit Community Governments to contribute to discussions on policies, programs, funding, and services that affect their communities; and
WHEREAS strengthening collaboration and understanding among MNL, Inuit Community Governments, the Nunatsiavut Government, and the Provincial Government can help identify gaps in existing supports and opportunities to improve outcomes for communities throughout Nunatsiavut;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador work collaboratively with Inuit Community Governments and the Nunatsiavut Government to:
Staff comments: MNL is supportive of this resolution and views it as a meaningful step toward strengthening recognition, understanding, and collaboration with Inuit Community Governments and recognizing their unique role within municipal governance in Newfoundland and Labrador.
WHEREAS municipalities are responsible for delivering essential public services while meeting an expanding range of legislative, regulatory, financial, procurement, planning, emergency management, human resources, records management, asset management and cybersecurity obligations;
AND WHEREAS the financial, staffing, and professional capacity available to municipalities varies significantly according to population, geography and tax base, with many municipalities relying on a small number of employees to administer increasingly complex responsibilities;
AND WHEREAS project-based funding does not ordinarily provide municipalities with the ongoing administrative and professional capacity required to plan projects, prepare funding applications, conduct procurements, manage contracts, satisfy reporting requirements and maintain completed infrastructure;
AND WHEREAS insufficient municipal capacity can delay essential projects, prevent municipalities from accessing available funding, increase reliance on external consultants, create compliance and service-delivery risks, and contribute to unequal outcomes between communities;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in consultation with MNL and Professional Municipal Administrators, establish a permanent, needs-based Municipal Administrative Capacity Fund that provides predictable, multi-year funding to support core municipal administration and access to voluntary regional or shared professional services, including planning, engineering, procurement, human resources, financial management, asset management, grant administration and cybersecurity;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador assess the financial, staffing and administrative impacts on municipalities before introducing new or expanded municipal legislative, regulatory or reporting requirements, and provide municipalities with the funding, training, implementation time and technical support necessary to meet those obligations.
Staff comments: Multiple resolutions have sought to address capacity gaps within the sector. This is aligned with those resolutions.
WHEREAS municipal clerks, managers, and clerk/managers play a critical role in the effective administration and operation of municipalities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador;
WHEREAS many municipalities, particularly small and rural municipalities, rely heavily on long-serving clerk/managers who possess extensive institutional knowledge regarding municipal operations, legislation, finances, infrastructure, programs, policies, and community history;
WHEREAS the retirement, resignation, or departure of a long-term clerk/manager can create significant operational challenges and result in the loss of valuable institutional knowledge if adequate succession and transition planning is not undertaken;
WHEREAS an effective transition is best achieved when an incoming clerk/manager has an opportunity to work alongside the outgoing employee for a sufficient period of time to receive practical training, transfer institutional knowledge, become familiar with municipal operations, and establish continuity in the administration of the municipality;
WHEREAS many small municipalities do not have the financial capacity to employ both an outgoing and incoming clerk/manager during a transition period, making proper succession planning difficult despite its importance to good municipal governance;
AND WHEREAS provincial financial assistance for succession planning and employee overlap would strengthen municipal administration, reduce disruption, preserve institutional knowledge, and better prepare the next generation of municipal administrators;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the establishment of a dedicated Municipal Administrative Succession and Transition Funding Program to assist municipalities when a long-term clerk, manager, or clerk/manager retires, resigns, or otherwise leaves their position;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such funding provide financial assistance to allow an incoming clerk/manager to be hired and employed concurrently with the outgoing clerk/manager for an appropriate transition and training period, including support for wages and other eligible training and transition costs;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the program recognize the particular financial and staffing challenges faced by small and rural municipalities and provide sufficient assistance to ensure that limited municipal financial capacity does not prevent effective succession planning and knowledge transfer;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and its member municipalities to develop appropriate eligibility criteria, transition periods, funding levels, and succession-planning resources to support the long-term stability and professional capacity of municipal administrations throughout the province.
Staff comments: 10.2023 Resolution Requesting Increased Funding for Training Purposes addressed the importance of well-trained municipal staff. We continue to hear about increasing staff turnover, workload difficulties, training gaps.
The 10.2023 resolution on training funding is relevant background, but paying for staff overlap during a transition is a different request.
WHEREAS ongoing training and professional development are essential for municipal councils and staff to remain informed and effective;
WHEREAS the costs associated with registration, travel, accommodations, meals, and staff wages can create barriers to accessing conferences, workshops, and training opportunities;
WHEREAS these costs can be particularly challenging for municipalities required to travel significant distances, while recognizing that all municipalities face financial pressures;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador request that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador increase funding for municipal council and staff training and professional development to better reflect the actual costs of participation;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Province explore additional supports, including registration subsidies or fee waivers and enhanced travel and accommodation assistance based on distance travelled, to help ensure that financial constraints do not prevent municipalities from accessing valuable training opportunities.
Staff comments: This has a strong connection to10-2023 resolution requesting increased training funding. That resolution was marked complete in the 2024 update after funding increased.
The current submission suggests the available support still doesn’t cover the true cost of participating, especially when significant travel is involved.
WHEREAS costs associated with towns providing services have increased excessively and the prospect of increasing taxes on an already overburdened public is not a viable option,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador lobby government for an increase in Municipal Operating Grants. Due to the high, and continually increasing, cost of services required by government, the current municipal operating grant isn’t sufficient to assist towns with these high costs.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MNL will encourage the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to recognize that towns with small populations have to offer the same services as those with large populations and that government take this into consideration when determining the allocated funding for municipal operating grants.
Staff comments: 09- 2019 Resolution called for the streamlining municipal funding programs to provide long-term, predictable funding. Underlined the need for additional resources for municipal operations. Core request from FCM. The 10-2019 resolution on predictable municipal funding provides useful background.
WHEREAS Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocates on behalf of municipalities and communities throughout the Province; and
WHEREAS municipalities rely on qualified engineering and construction professionals to plan, design, manage, inspect, and deliver municipal infrastructure projects; and
WHEREAS municipalities have identified challenges related to capacity, quality assurance, project management, and the availability of qualified professionals within the municipal engineering and infrastructure sector; and
WHEREAS the quality, value, and long-term sustainability of municipal infrastructure can be strengthened through effective project planning, appropriate professional qualifications, quality management practices, and clearly defined accountability measures; and
WHEREAS the Provincial Government is a significant funder and partner in municipal infrastructure projects and, through its funding programs, procurement requirements, and project delivery processes, has an important role in supporting consistent standards and best practices across the sector;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador lobby the Provincial Government to work collaboratively with municipalities and industry stakeholders to review and strengthen processes related to the planning, procurement, design, management, and delivery of municipal infrastructure projects, including consideration of the following:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador engage with the Provincial Government and relevant industry and professional organizations to identify opportunities to improve the consistency, quality, value, and accountability of municipal infrastructure project delivery across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Staff comments: There are connections to resolution 04-2013 on the municipal capital works process and 04-2025 on funding for work which would help identify project risks early. Note that the resolution does veer towards prescribed advocacy outcomes.
WHEREAS municipalities are responsible for planning for sustainable community growth and require access to developable land to address housing needs, provide municipal and community infrastructure, and support residential, commercial and industrial development;
AND WHEREAS Crown lands located within municipal planning boundaries can represent strategically important land required to achieve objectives established through municipal plans and development strategies;
AND WHEREAS the current process for municipalities to acquire Crown lands can involve lengthy approvals, land acquisition costs and conditions that may affect the financial viability and timing of municipal, housing and economic development projects;
AND WHEREAS the Provincial Government has undertaken improvements to Crown Lands administration and has committed to addressing long-standing concerns respecting Crown Lands, providing an opportunity to establish a more effective framework specifically for municipal access to Crown lands;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a streamlined municipal Crown Lands framework that:
Staff Notes: 04-2022 Crown lands resolution. There were earlier Crown lands resolutions in 2019 dealing with service and processing concerns. This submission continues that work with a more specific focus on municipal access, transfer costs and service standards.
WHEREAS Moose‑vehicle collisions continue to pose a significant and growing threat to public safety across Newfoundland and Labrador, resulting in fatalities, serious injuries, emotional trauma, and substantial economic costs to residents, visitors, and emergency services; and
WHEREAS The Southern Shore region, including the Aquaforte–Ferryland–Cape Broyle corridor, has experienced repeated moose‑vehicle collisions, including multiple fatalities and daily near‑miss incidents, creating an urgent and unacceptable level of risk for motorists; and
WHEREAS Brush cutting is a proven and essential mitigation measure that increases driver visibility, reduces moose concealment near roadways, and lowers collision risk when performed consistently and comprehensively; and
WHEREAS Current brush‑cutting schedules and tendered work have not adequately addressed high‑risk sections of Route 10 and other rural corridors where collisions are most frequent, leaving significant gaps in safety coverage; and
WHEREAS Moose populations in several regions of the province have increased in recent years, further elevating collision risk and necessitating a multi‑layered mitigation strategy beyond vegetation management alone; and
WHEREAS Municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador share responsibility for advocating for resident safety and for urging the Provincial Government to implement evidence‑based, regionally responsive wildlife‑vehicle collision mitigation measures;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to implement enhanced, region‑specific brush‑cutting programs, prioritizing high‑risk corridors where moose‑vehicle collisions are most prevalent, including but not limited to Route 10 on the Southern Shore; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL advocate for the Provincial Government to adopt a comprehensive moose‑vehicle collision mitigation strategy,including increased brush‑cutting frequency, expanded wildlife fencing where feasible, improved signage and lighting in high‑risk zones, and targeted increases in moose licences to help manage population density; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL request that the Provincial Government establish transparent reporting mechanisms for brush‑cutting schedules, wildlife‑vehicle collision data, and regional risk assessments, ensuring municipalities have access to timely information needed to protect residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL encourage the Provincial Government to engage directly with affected municipalities, regional emergency services, and wildlife experts to develop collaborative, evidence‑based mitigation plans tailored to the needs of rural and high‑risk communities.
Staff comments: 18-2013 Moose Management Plan for Highway Safety. This resolution specifically calls for municipalities and local emergency services to help identify risks and develop responses. That gives municipalities a clearer role than simply expressing support. There’s substantial overlap with 18-2013 on moose management.
As brush-cutting along provincial highways can refer to areas within municipal boundaries, the Southern Shore being a case in point.
WHEREAS reliable access to emergency communications is essential to public safety for residents, travellers, first responders and municipal emergency-management organizations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador; and
WHEREAS significant gaps in conventional cellular coverage remain along highways, rural transportation corridors and remote areas of the province, limiting the ability of individuals to communicate with emergency services when assistance is required; and
WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has committed to closing critical cellular coverage gaps, with a particular focus on rural communities and major highway corridors where public-safety risks are greatest; and
WHEREAS emerging satellite-to-mobile technologies can provide an additional means of communication in areas without conventional cellular coverage, including access to text-based 911 services, emergency location information and public emergency alerts on compatible devices; and
WHEREAS satellite-to-mobile technology presently has limitations, including reliance on compatible devices and clear satellite connectivity, potential delays in message transmission and location determination, and limited availability of voice-based emergency calling; and
WHEREAS an effective provincial emergency-communications strategy should incorporate emerging satellite technology as a supplementary public-safety tool while continuing to expand reliable terrestrial cellular coverage;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in partnership with the Government of Canada, telecommunications providers and emergency-service organizations, to develop a coordinated strategy for emergency communications in highway, rural and remote areas that integrates terrestrial cellular expansion with emerging satellite-to-mobile technology;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the strategy include:
Staff comments: This submission adds something specific through its consideration of satellite communications and how emergency messages reach the appropriate responders. The 06-2024 cell coverage resolution is an important earlier reference. This submission builds on the general coverage issue by looking more closely at emergency communications and additional technology. Two other submissions on cell phone coverage by Colinet and Marystown but were superseded by this resolution.
WHEREAS access to reliable and affordable electricity is essential to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador;
WHEREAS many rural and remote communities, particularly in Labrador, continue to rely on isolated electrical systems and diesel generation despite being located in areas where connection to the provincial electrical grid may be technically and economically feasible;
WHEREAS communities that are not connected to the provincial electrical grid may face higher electricity costs, limitations on economic development, and barriers to transitioning away from fossil-fuel-based generation;
WHEREAS equitable access to reliable and affordable electricity is important to attracting and retaining residents, supporting local businesses, encouraging economic development, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural and remote communities;
WHEREAS Newfoundland and Labrador possesses significant hydroelectric and renewable energy resources, and residents of communities capable of being connected to the provincial electrical grid should have the opportunity to benefit from those resources;
AND WHEREAS electricity is an essential service and residents should have access to affordable electricity regardless of where they reside within the province;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, Newfoundland Power, and other relevant authorities for the development and implementation of a plan to connect all communities in Newfoundland and Labrador that can reasonably and feasibly be connected to the provincial electrical grid;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador work with affected municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, utilities, and the federal government to identify the infrastructure, funding, and implementation mechanisms necessary to achieve these objectives.
Staff Comments: There’s a broad connection to other resolutions referencing cost of living and rural infrastructure.
WHEREAS small businesses are vital to the economic sustainability of communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in rural and remote regions where they provide essential goods, services and employment;
AND WHEREAS high and volatile gasoline and diesel prices significantly increase the cost of transportation, freight, deliveries, service calls and day-to-day business operations, with these impacts being greater in rural and remote communities due to longer travel distances and limited transportation alternatives;
AND WHEREAS increased fuel costs are ultimately absorbed by businesses through reduced operating margins or passed on to consumers through higher prices, placing additional pressure on both small businesses and residents and affecting the competitiveness and long-term viability of rural communities;
BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in consultation with the small business and municipal sectors, to examine the disproportionate impact of high and volatile gasoline and diesel prices on small businesses, particularly those operating in rural and remote communities, and develop additional measures to reduce or offset fuel-related operating and transportation costs;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador advocate to both the Provincial and Federal Governments for policies and programs that recognize the unique transportation and fuel-cost challenges faced by small businesses in rural and remote Newfoundland and Labrador.
Staff comments: We were unable to identify a close earlier match in the resolutions we reviewed. Broader transportation and affordability resolutions provide some context, but they don’t necessarily address this specific request.
Purpose: To call for a complete, coordinated provincial recovery pathway from assessment and detox through treatment, sober housing, aftercare and long-term recovery.
WHEREAS addiction and illicit drug activity continue to have serious impacts on individuals, families and communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador;
AND WHEREAS people seeking recovery may require a combination of assessment, detoxification, mental-health care, treatment, sober accommodation, rehabilitation, recovery housing and long-term supports;
AND WHEREAS gaps between these services can leave individuals without a safe or appropriate next step at critical stages of recovery, particularly in rural and remote communities;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador call upon the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to establish and adequately fund a coordinated, province-wide continuum of addiction treatment and recovery services that includes:
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Province ensure clear transition pathways between each stage of care so individuals are not discharged without an appropriate next step, and that rural residents have equitable access to services, including transportation and accommodation supports where required;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL call upon the provincial and federal governments to strengthen drug detection and prevention and screening at Newfoundland and Labrador’s major points of entry, including the use of canine detection teams and other appropriate enforcement resources where warranted.
Staff comments: The 09-2018 resolution on mental health supports is relevant background. This submission is requests appropriate next steps are available throughout the recovery process.
