Municipal Prosperity Has Provincial Impact
February 10, 2021
St. John’s – Over the last four weeks, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) has outlined priorities in municipal fiscal stability, innovative infrastructure and regionalization as part of its Municipal Solutions Platform. Future success in all of these areas hinges on having a seat at the decision-making table when municipal issues are being discussed. Municipalities must be equal partners in decision-making processes.
Once a new government is formed, MNL looks forward to a provincial legislature that understands the importance of long-term collaboration to achieve better service delivery, smarter funding initiatives, and a strategy to deal with our growing infrastructure deficit.
Specifically, MNL is looking for a seat at the table when federal and provincial agreements for municipal funding are discussed. Provincial-federal management committees associated with these agreements must include MNL representation. The organization would also like to see a permanent, formal mechanism for vetting and developing legislative changes that impact municipal governments and co-management of processes like The Premier’s Forum on Local Government. Other jurisdictions across the country have formal partnership mechanisms between municipal associations and government. A memorandum of understanding between MNL and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador would be such a mechanism to facilitate a proper seat at the table.
“Municipalities are often held back from participating in discussions about critical issues that directly affect them and how they govern. Simply providing input is not the same as being part of the decision-making process. Decisions are more effective when the institutions they affect are involved from the start. As an order of government municipalities have a strong role to play in the future prosperity of this province. Their voices must be heard and MNL is the organization representing their collective voices” Craig Pollett, CEO of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.
-30-
Download the Platform: Municipal Solutions Platform
Read: Municipal Renewal Begins With Regionalization (MNL Release – Feb 8, 2021)
Read: Building Our Future Will Require Innovative Solutions (MNL Release – Feb 1, 2021)
Read: Municipal Stability Requires New Fiscal Solutions (MNL Release – Jan 25, 2021)
Read: MNL Launches Municipal Solutions Platform as Part of Provincial Election Advocacy (MNL Release – Jan 21, 2021)