Urban Municipalities Committee

Nutrition break will be served; refreshments provided by the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques

• Call to Order 
• Land Acknowledgement
• Round of introductions 
• Approval of agenda 
• Review of last meeting minutes

Participants will discuss key issues and topics they are working on in their communities. 

An overview of the Tourism Accommodation Tax, outlining the legislative authority, decision points, and best practices for implementation and governance. Participants will gain practical guidance on how to manage revenues transparently, compliantly, and in ways that deliver meaningful tourism outcomes.  Presented by Craig Foley (Hospitality NL), Rob Nolan (MNL). 

Lunch provided by the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques. 

MNL staff will provide updates on MNL’s 2025 resolutions, highlighting issues of importance to urban municipalities including wastewater, WSER, and more. 

Municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador are grappling with two intersecting challenges: a shortage of safe, affordable housing for post-secondary students, and older adults’ desire to age in place while combating isolation. SpacesShared offers a practical, community-based response to both. In this session, SpacesShared will introduce their newly updated intergenerational homesharing platform — an end-to-end digital solution that matches older adults who have a spare bedroom with post-secondary students seeking safe, affordable housing. Participants will learn how the platform works, what safeguards are in place, and how municipalities can support or partner with SpacesShared to expand homesharing in their communities. Whether your town is home to a post-secondary campus, a growing senior population, or simply a tight housing market, this session will explore how homesharing can strengthen community connections, generate supplemental income for hosts, and make your municipality a more livable place for people of all ages.  

Disruptions from climate emergencies are becoming increasingly prevalent and more severe in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada, disrupting local government services and community service delivery. Unlocking Resiliency – Business Continuity and Recovery Planning explores the intersections of both recovery and business continuity planning with a lens on economic development. Haley Jeffrey, Senior Manager – Infrastructure Advisory, Colliers Project Leaders, will highlight strategies on how to ‘unlock’ resiliency through ‘key’ processes supporting organizational and community resilience, highlighting the important interdependence between these systems. 

MNL Staff will review any action items identified throughout the day, and also revisit any items noted for the “parking lot” which may require further action/discussion.  

Join your colleagues at the Bruce Arena (located at 200 Hardy Arteria Road). The Town of Channel-Port aux Basques will provide light appetizers, and drinks will be available for purchase. Bowling lanes will be available for those who wish to have a game, and there is also cozy seating in the curling room, if you’d prefer to play darts or just enjoy a visit. 

Join us for a traditional Newfoundland breakfast and tour at the local Railway Heritage Museum (located at 1 Trans Canada Hwy). Hosted by the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques.  

Highlighting multi-year capital works key challenges, opportunities, and approaches for urban municipalities. Facilitated by Ben Noseworthy, MNL Director of Programs and Rob Nolan, MNL CEO.

Middle Power Municipalities is an interactive session exploring the role towns play within Canada’s identity as a middle power. Grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this facilitated discussion invites participants to connect local action with global impact. Through shared ideas and practical examples, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how their municipality can take meaningful steps to move the needle forward. Presented by Rudy Norman, Tomorrow’s Towns Program Coordinator (MNL).  

Lunch provided by the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques. 

Municipalities with Health Services, commercial/retail centers, and other public institutions are feeling pressures from communities around them as people move for medical and other various reasons. Maintaining connections with smaller towns and exploring collaborative opportunities can provide constructive benefits for all. Presented by Brian Coleman, Housing Capacity-Building Officer, MNL. 

A discussion of issues of importance to urban municipalities; facilitated by Rob Nolan, MNL CEO, and Ben Noseworthy, MNL Director of Programs. 

Refreshments provided by the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques

A focused session for the Urban Municipalities Committee to share insights, identify priorities, and help shape Municipalities NL’s overall strategic planning direction. Rob Nolan, MNL CEO, will facilitate. 

MNL staff will provide an overview of the key discussions from the meeting, revisit the challenges noted by municipalities, and recap key action items. Discussion on location for next/upcoming UMC gatherings will also be tabled during this final session.