2025 Resolutions to be Voted on at the MNL Annual General Meeting
Category A
1-2025 – Volunteer Firefighter Remuneration
Municipality: Town of St. Lunaire Griquet
Whereas municipalities are unable to provide remuneration to volunteer fire departments due to limited funds; and,
Whereas volunteer firefighters contribute hours and hours of time to protect the communities we live and work in, and this comes with enormous responsibility, time away from their families and risking their lives for the safety of others,
Therefore be it resolved that Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador lobby the provincial government to enact remuneration for all active volunteer firefighters in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Staff Comments: Since the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) mounted their first volunteer firefighter-focused census in 2021, demands on these dedicated first responders across our country have only grown. The CAFC’s census reports have examined remuneration models, issues with tax credit interpretations and a host of other critical factors weighing on the recruitment, training, health and retention of firefighters across Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services (NLAFS) deserves full support in their ongoing advocacy on behalf of the over-6000, mostly volunteer firefighters in this province.
2-2025 – Preventing Harassment of Municipal Elected Officials and Staff
Submitted: MNL Board
WHEREAS harassment, intimidation, and acts of violence toward municipal elected officials and staff have been increasing in recent years, creating unsafe work environments and impacting the ability of individuals to serve their communities effectively;
WHEREAS these incidents contribute to stress, burnout, and the loss of skilled and dedicated leaders in local government, further challenging recruitment and retention across the municipal sector;
WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) 2024 resolution on the “Harassment of Elected Local Government Officials” notes that women, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and Black and racialized individuals are disproportionately targeted by harassment and abuse, both online and in-person;
WHEREAS such harassment discourages participation from underrepresented groups in local politics, limiting the diversity of voices and perspectives essential to healthy and inclusive communities;
WHEREAS elected officials and municipal employees should be able to perform their duties free from fear and abuse, and all orders of government share responsibility in creating and maintaining safe working environments; and,
WHEREAS municipal leaders have a vital role in promoting respectful public discourse, modeling professional behaviour, and fostering civility and mutual respect within their councils and communities;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador call on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to work with MNL, Professional Municipal Administrators (PMA), and other partners to:
- Develop and implement measures to prevent and address harassment, intimidation, and threats against municipal elected officials and staff;
- Strengthen supports and resources available to municipalities to manage harassment complaints, including training, policy development, and legal guidance; and,
- Promote a province-wide public awareness campaign that reinforces civility, respect, and constructive dialogue in local governance.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MNL encourage all elected officials and municipal employees to lead by example—elevating debate, respecting differing opinions, and maintaining a culture of dignity and professionalism in public service.
Staff Comments: Episodes of harassment, intimidation and incivility are once more on the rise, making the work of elected officials and local government staff all the more challenging across Canada and here at home. A decade ago, MNL collaborated with numerous partners to pursue a sector-wide respectful workplace campaign and advance anti-harassment policies. It is time to revitalize those efforts.
3- 2025 Strengthening Support and Accountability for Municipal Code of Conduct Processes
Submitted: MNL Board
WHEREAS municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador are required to adopt and uphold Codes of Conduct to ensure respectful, ethical, and transparent governance;
WHEREAS many councils continue to face challenges in enforcing these Codes due to limited resources, unclear procedures, and the absence of impartial supports to help resolve conflicts;
WHEREAS Code of Conduct complaints can create significant tension within councils, impacting their ability to govern effectively and maintain public confidence;
WHEREAS smaller municipalities often lack access to trained personnel, independent advisors, or consistent guidance to manage Code of Conduct complaints fairly and efficiently; and,
WHEREAS municipal leaders have expressed the need for additional tools, education, and accessible supports to navigate these complex issues and restore trust within councils and communities;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) appeal to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the creation of new avenues of support to assist municipalities in managing Code of Conduct matters, such as access to impartial guidance, external expertise, and consistent processes that promote fairness, accountability, and conflict resolution; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT MNL continue to work with members and partners to strengthen education, training, and resources that help councils build respectful, inclusive, and effective governance environments.
Staff Comments: This resolution responds to multiple requests received from MNL members respecting their need for additional supports to manage and respond to Code of Conduct inquiries. Court cases will clarify interpretations of the new Municipal Code of Conduct Act in years to come but there is much that can be addressed in the meantime through education, advisory and troubleshooting services.
4-2025 Funding Eligibility for Risk Mitigation Pre-Work in Municipal Infrastructure Projects
Municipality: Town of Paradise
WHEREAS the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has introduced a Risk Management Framework to standardize risk assessment practices, ensure accountability in public spending, and support municipalities in identifying and mitigating risks throughout the lifecycle of infrastructure projects;
WHEREAS municipalities are expected to incorporate this framework into their infrastructure planning and execution, particularly for projects receiving provincial or federal funding;
WHEREAS the Town of Paradise supports the framework’s intent but notes that the up-front costs associated with risk mitigation planning—estimated at 5–10% of a project’s value—are currently not eligible for reimbursement under existing funding agreements;
WHEREAS these unrecoverable costs place a financial burden on municipal operational budgets and may hinder responsible project planning and execution;
WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities provides funding for all stages of municipal projects, including planning, feasibility studies, and pilot projects, and a similar model should be adopted provincially; and,
WHEREAS enabling funding eligibility for preparatory work would allow municipalities to determine project viability early, invest in necessary planning tools, and reduce financial strain on local governments;
BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) advocate to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the implementation of a funding framework that includes eligibility for costs incurred during the preparatory phase of municipal infrastructure projects, specifically those required to meet the Province’s Risk Mitigation requirements.
Staff Comments: Once again, MNL’s ongoing participation in the Province’s Joint Municipal Infrastructure Committee has provided a pathway for bringing forward and discussing these sorts of concerns with government and industry representatives.
5- 2025 Mandatory Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Checks for Town Councillors under the TLSDA
Submitted: Town of Humber South Arm
WHEREAS municipal councils act in positions of public trust and make decisions affecting all residents, including vulnerable populations;
WHEREAS councillors often interact with staff, volunteers, youth programs, community services and other contexts where trust and safeguarding are important;
WHEREAS under the Towns and Local Service Districts Act 2023, the qualifications and duties of councillors are set out in Chapter T-6.2 Section 33, but the Act does not currently require all elected councillors to provide a criminal record check or vulnerable sector check;
WHEREAS many institutions and levels of government require such checks for individuals undertaking roles of public trust or working with vulnerable persons; and,
WHEREAS implementing such a requirement would promote transparency, public confidence and risk mitigation in local government.
BE IT RESOLVED that Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador request the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs to amend the Towns and Local Service Districts Act (or enact a regulation thereunder) to require all persons elected as councillors in towns to obtain and submit a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check within a specified period after election (for example, within 60 days) and at regular intervals or upon re-election;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MNL advocate for provincial support (such as subsidized checks or streamlined process) to ensure these checks are accessible, affordable and practicable for all municipalities.
Staff Comments: A similar resolution was brought forward in the past and was defeated. No requirement for other orders of government for similar background checks . 6-2014 was municipal office must provide the respective municipality with a letter of conduct (Code of Conduct) showing they are a law-abiding citizen before being permitted to run for municipal office.
6-2025 – Review of Municipal Elections Act
Municipality: Mount Pearl
WHEREAS, in 2025, the provincial government committed to working toward accessibility, diversity and inclusion in municipal elections to better reflect the growing diversity of Newfoundland and Labrador. Though this is a step in the right direction, more work is needed to ensure systemic barriers are removed to strengthen efforts for more inclusive, accessible and diverse elections.
WHEREAS implementing an option for allowing municipalities to offer technology-based voting and candidate registration will greatly enhance the ease and accessibility of the electoral process. Across Canada, six provinces (Alberta, BC, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec) have amended their legislation to allow technology-based voting.
WHEREAS the requirement to publish election notices in a newspaper circulating in the municipality is onerous given the evolution of digital media and sharp decline in newspaper subscriptions. It is more timely, cost-effective, and efficient to permit the City to electronically publish notices through their established channels such as websites and social media pages.
WHEREAS harassment of Canadian public officials is a growing problem, especially at the local level, and includes a wide range of behaviors from online insults and threats to in-person intimidation and violence. Section 16 requires that the personal home address of candidates be included on the ballot. It is essential that steps are taken to protect the privacy of individuals seeking election in light of increasing issues across Canada. Notably, residential addresses are not required in federal or provincial elections and is unique in this province to municipal elections.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador immediately lobby the Provincial Government to address the issues of accessibility in municipal elections, protection of candidate privacy and other issues by revising the Municipal Elections Act, 2001 in consultation of MNL and provincial municipalities.
Staff Comments: Several MNL resolutions have called for a review of the Municipal Elections Act, most recently in 2021. MNL’s 2022 submission to the All-Party Committee to Modernize the [Provincial] Elections Act drew pointedly on lessons learned in our 2021 municipal elections roll-out. It is understood that all this Province’s municipal sector-related legislation requires a review, in part to ensure harmonization with the new Towns and Local Service Districts Act, but also to address emerging challenges. Election-related technologies have been of interest to the MNL membership for some time, as reflected in Resolution 7-2014 regarding electronic or “internet” voting (Town of Gander), but the provincial Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has recorded grave concerns about it.
7-2025 – Reimbursement of Municipal Campaign Expenses
Municipality: Mount Pearl
WHEREAS qualifying candidates in provincial elections are entitled to receive reimbursement for 1/3 of their included election expenses up to a district maximum;
WHEREAS individuals with lower or fixed incomes are detrimentally impacted by the costs associated with running a campaign, impacting the accessibility and inclusion of some people in municipal elections;
WHEREAS similar enabling legislation, or a provincial bursary/reimbursement program for qualifying candidates would remove barriers and encourage more residents to seek municipal election;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador lobby the Provincial Government to address the issues of accessibility in municipal elections and inequalities between municipal and provincial election campaigns by enacting enabling legislation or creating provincial financial programs which provide for partial reimbursement of campaign expenses.
Staff Comments: Accessibility and inclusion are key tenets of democratic participation. The financial burden of running for office can serve as a significant barrier to participation, particularly for individuals with lower or fixed incomes, women, youth, and members of underrepresented groups. Establishing a reimbursement or bursary model, similar to the provincial election framework, would help remove systemic barriers and enhance equitable participation in local democracy.
Classification: B
8-2025 – Regulation of E-Bikes
Municipality: Mount Pearl
WHEREAS the worldwide sale and use of electric bicycles and scooters have grown dramatically in the past decade, particularly among children and youth, and is becoming an increasing source of traffic-related injuries and death;
WHEREAS in Newfoundland and Labrador law enforcement agencies face challenges in enforcing the Highway Traffic Act as it pertains to electric bicycles and scooters;
WHEREAS specific regulations, similar to the Off-Road Vehicles Act, would strengthen the rules and enforcement of electric bicycles and scooters, improving safety and reducing the risk of injuries, particularly among children and youth;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador lobby the Provincial Department of Government Modernization and Service Delivery to amend the Highway Traffic Act to include e-bikes and strengthen safety requirements for operating electric bicycles and scooters.
Staff Comments: There have been some concerns raised that this resolution may have the unintended consequence of discouraging the use of electric bicycles and scooters as a sustainable and affordable mode of transportation, particularly for residents in smaller or lower-income communities. While the intent of the resolution is to improve public safety and regulatory clarity, care should be taken to ensure that any new requirements, such as licensing, training, or registration, do not create unnecessary barriers to accessibility, affordability, or active transportation goals. An amendment to the Highway Traffic Act would address the lack of representation of e-bikes as a mode of transportation.