Short Title: | An Act Respecting Local Governance Reform French: Loi concernant la réforme de la gouvernance locale |
Legislature: | Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick |
Citation: | https://www.legnb.ca/en/legislation/bills/60/1/82/an-act-respecting-local-governance-reform |
Enacted By: | 1st Session, 60th Legislature |
Date Assented: | December 17, 2021 |
Bill: | Bill 82 |
Related Legislation: | Local Governments Establishment Regulation |
Status: | current |
Local governance reform in the Canadian province of New Brunswick was implemented on January 1, 2023. This resulted in a significant reorganization of the local government entities in the province, including a reduction in the number of entities from 340 to 89, consisting of 77 local governments and 12 rural districts nested within 12 regional service commissions. The local governance reform review was commenced by the Government of New Brunswick in January 2021 and was promoted as the most consequential restructuring of the local governance system since Premier Robichaud's Equal Opportunity Program.[1]
Immediately prior to the 2023 reform, New Brunswick's local governance system consisted of 12 regional service commissions and 340 local entities including 104 local governments (i.e., municipalities) and 236 local service districts.[2] Following the appointment of Daniel Allain as Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform,[3] the Government of New Brunswick commenced the reform of the system on January 19, 2021;[2] its first significant local governance reform in 60 years.[4] The intent of the reform was to modernize the local governance system due to a lack of elected local government representation for more than 30 per cent of the province's population, redundancies in the delivery of services and infrastructure, and to address challenges for communities in the delivery of services.[2] The reform was announced to be multiphase in nature and featured stakeholder engagement.[2]
Public engagement commenced in April 2021 with the release of a local governance reform green paper.[5] The paper outlines four topics to guide engagement including the current local governance structure, regional collaboration, land use planning, and finance.[5] An advisory committee was established to steer the reform process with working groups created for each of the four engagement topics.[5] Public engagement sessions were scheduled for mid-May 2021 with a deadline of May 31 for the public to submit its input.[6] An engagement report was published in September 2021, summarizing feedback received from stakeholders and the public.[7] A round of meetings to discuss the engagement summary report ensued.[7]
The Government of New Brunswick announced its initial plan to reform the province's local governance system in a white paper published in November 2021.[8] A reduction in the current system of 340 entities to 90 entities – 78 local governments and 12 rural districts – was proposed.[8] For the 12 rural districts, a structure was proposed featuring advisory committees with members elected in November 2022.[8] It was announced that the restructuring transition process would be financed by the provincial government.[8]
Revisions to the initial plan were announced in December 2021 based on feedback arising from review of the initial plan.[4] Revisions included the geographic reconfiguration of numerous proposed entities that resulted in a net reduction of the proposed local governments from 78 to 77.[9] One proposed local government was merged into another, one proposed local government was deleted with its geography distributed into two others, and one proposed local government was split into two.[9] While most revisions were well-received, the movement of the Chiasson-Savoy local service district from Shippagan to Île-de-Lamèque in a court case that was not resolved until October 2022.[10]
The proposed names of the 77 local governments and 12 rural districts were announced on May 25, 2022;[11] The names were officially set on August 30, 2022, and took effect on January 1, 2023; the boundary descriptions used in previous consolidated regulations have been replaced entirely by maps.
Unlike changes to boundaries, the financial component of the local governance reform was implemented piecemeal. Phase one of the white paper's financial reform plan included property taxation adjustments and changes to the community funding and equalization grant.[12] Among the most notable changes for local governments was the ability to increase the tax rate on non-residential properties up to 1.7 times the local rate.[13] Plans for phase two are still underway, though the provincial government has already committed to reduced its own tax rate on nonresidential properties over three years. In addition to changes proposed in the white paper, new possibilities like decoupling apartments from the rest of the non-owner occupied residential tax class are also being considered.[14]
Changes to the community funding and equalization grant occurred in the fall. In May 2022, an independent expert panel was also commissioned to study the community funding and equalization grant system in New Brunswick and make recommendations on how to improve it to the government.[15] The resulting report on Provincial Municipal Fiscal Arrangements in New Brunswick was released on September 28, 2022.[16] Ultimately, the government chose to implement some components of the expert panel's report but did not implement their new equalization formula.[17] On October 4, 2022, Minister Allain introduced amendments in the legislature outlining the government's new funding mechanism. The changes imposed a fixed annual rate for community funding of just under $76 million until 2028, redirected core funding to support the priorities of the regional service commissions, and introduced an updated equalization formula. Under the new formula, payments will be adjusted for annual tax base growth compared to the provincial tax base growth to a maximum of three per cent. Any reduced need for equalization funding will be redirected, along with the core funding revenue, to help support the expanded mandates of regional service commissions.
Name | Entity | Status | Regional service commission | Previous local governments/local service districts |
---|---|---|---|---|
Haut-Madawaska | 1 | Town | Northwest | Rural Community of Haut-Madawaska |
Village of Lac Baker | ||||
Edmundston | 2 | City | Northwest | City of Edmundston |
of Saint-Jacques (part) | ||||
of Saint-Joseph (part) | ||||
Vallée-des-Rivières | 3 | Town | Northwest | |
Village of Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska | ||||
of Sainte-Anne (part) | ||||
of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (part) | ||||
of Saint-Léonard (part) | ||||
of Rivière-Verte (part) | ||||
Grand Falls (French: Grand-Sault) | 4 | Town | Northwest | Town of Grand Falls |
Village of Drummond | ||||
Rural Community of Saint-André | ||||
of Drummond (part) | ||||
of Grand Falls | ||||
Saint-Quentin | 5 | Town | Northwest | Town of Saint-Quentin |
of Saint-Quentin (part) | ||||
of St. Martin de Restigouche | ||||
Kedgwick | 6 | Rural community | Northwest | Rural Community of Kedgwick |
of Eldon (part) | ||||
of St. Jean Baptiste – Menneval | ||||
of White's Brook | ||||
of Saint-Quentin (part) | ||||
Campbellton | 7 | City | Restigouche | City of Campbellton |
Village of Atholville | ||||
Village of Tide Head | ||||
of Glencoe | ||||
of Dalhousie (part) | ||||
of McLeods (part) | ||||
of Balmoral (part)[21] | ||||
of Addington (part) | ||||
Bois-Joli | 8 | Village | Restigouche | Village of Eel River Crossing |
Village of Balmoral | ||||
of Balmoral (part) | ||||
of Blair Athol | ||||
of Balmoral-St. Maure | ||||
of Dalhousie (part) | ||||
of McLeods (part) | ||||
Heron Bay (French: Baie-des-Hérons) | 9 | Town | Restigouche | Town of Dalhousie |
Village of Charlo | ||||
of Point La Nim | ||||
of Dalhousie Junction | ||||
of Dalhousie (part) | ||||
of Chaleur (part) | ||||
of Balmoral (part) | ||||
Belledune | 10 | Village | Chaleur | Village of Belledune |
Belle-Baie | 11 | Town | Chaleur | Town of Beresford |
Village of Nigadoo | ||||
Village of Petit-Rocher | ||||
Village of Pointe-Verte | ||||
of Madran | ||||
of Petit-Rocher-Nord (Devereaux) | ||||
of Petit-Rocher-Sud | ||||
of Tremblay | ||||
of Dunlop | ||||
of Robertville | ||||
of Laplante | ||||
of Beresford (part) | ||||
of North Tetagouche (part) | ||||
of Bathurst (part) | ||||
Bathurst | 12 | City | Chaleur | City of Bathurst |
of North Tetagouche (part) | ||||
of Big River (part) | ||||
of Bathurst (part) | ||||
Rivière-du-Nord | 13 | Town | Acadian Peninsula | Village of Bertrand |
Village of Maisonnette | ||||
Village of Grande-Anse | ||||
Village of Saint-Léolin | ||||
of Poirier | ||||
of Dugas | ||||
of Anse Bleue | ||||
of New Bandon (part) | ||||
Caraquet | 14 | Town | Acadian Peninsula | Town of Caraquet |
Village of Bas-Caraquet | ||||
of Pokesudie | ||||
of St. Simon | ||||
of Blanchard Settlement | ||||
of Evangéline (part) | ||||
of Pokemouche | ||||
of Caraquet (part) | ||||
of Landry Office (part) | ||||
Île-de-Lamèque | 15 | Town | Acadian Peninsula | Town of Lamèque |
Village of Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphaël | ||||
of Pointe-Canot | ||||
of Ste. Cecile | ||||
of Pointe-Alexandre | ||||
of Petite-Lamèque | ||||
of Haut-Lamèque | ||||
of Coteau Road | ||||
of Pigeon Hill | ||||
of Cap-Bateau | ||||
of Shippegan (part)[22] | ||||
of Chiasson-Savoy | ||||
Shippagan | 16 | Town | Acadian Peninsula | Town of Shippagan |
Village of Le Goulet | ||||
of Haut-Shippagan | ||||
of Shippegan (part) | ||||
of Baie du Petit Pokemouche | ||||
of Pointe-Sauvage (Indian Point) | ||||
of Inkerman Centre | ||||
of Evangéline (part) | ||||
of Caraquet (part) | ||||
Hautes-Terres | 17 | Town | Acadian Peninsula | Village of Saint-Isidore |
Village of Paquetville | ||||
of Paquetville | ||||
of Saint-Isidore | ||||
of Saint-Sauveur | ||||
of the Paroisse Notre-Dame-des-Érables | ||||
of Caraquet (part) | ||||
of Maltempec | ||||
Tracadie | 18 | Regional municipality | Acadian Peninsula | Regional Municipality of Tracadie |
Neguac | 19 | Village | Acadian Peninsula | Village of Neguac |
Alnwick | 20 | Rural community | Greater Miramichi | of Alnwick |
of Tabusintac | ||||
of Fair Isle | ||||
of Oak Point - Bartibog Bridge | ||||
Miramichi | 21 | City | Greater Miramichi | City of Miramichi |
of Nelson (part) | ||||
of Newcastle (part) | ||||
Miramichi River Valley | 22 | Rural community | Greater Miramichi | Village of Blackville |
of Blackville (part) | ||||
of Renous-Quarryville | ||||
of North Esk (part) | ||||
of South Esk (part) | ||||
of Derby | ||||
of Sunny Corner | ||||
of Nelson (part) | ||||
of Newcastle (part) | ||||
Doaktown | 23 | Village | Greater Miramichi | Village of Doaktown |
of Blissfield (part) | ||||
Upper Miramichi | 24 | Rural community | Greater Miramichi | Rural Community of Upper Miramichi |
Nouvelle-Arcadie | 25 | Village | Kent | Village of Rogersville |
of Collette | ||||
of Acadieville | ||||
of Rogersville | ||||
of Harcourt (part) | ||||
of Weldford (part) | ||||
of Saint-Louis (part) | ||||
of Nelson (part) | ||||
Beaurivage | 26 | Town | Kent | Town of Richibucto |
Village of Saint-Louis de Kent | ||||
of Saint-Louis (part) | ||||
of Saint-Ignace | ||||
of Aldouane | ||||
of Saint-Charles | ||||
Five Rivers | 28 | Village | Kent | Village of Rexton |
of Richibucto (part) | ||||
of Weldford (part) | ||||
of Harcourt (part) | ||||
of Saint-Paul (part) | ||||
of Cap-de-Richibouctou (part) | ||||
Grand-Bouctouche | 29 | Town | Kent | Town of Bouctouche |
of Wellington (part) | ||||
of Sainte-Anne-de-Kent | ||||
of Saint Mary[23] | ||||
of Richibucto (part) | ||||
Champdoré | 30 | Town | Kent | Village of Saint-Antoine |
of Grand Saint-Antoine | ||||
of Wellington (part) | ||||
of Saint-Paul (part) | ||||
of Saint Mary (part) | ||||
of Dundas (part) | ||||
of Harcourt (part) | ||||
Beausoleil | 31 | Rural community | Kent | Rural Community of Cocagne |
of Dundas (part) | ||||
of Grande-Digue | ||||
of Shediac Bridge-Shediac River | ||||
of Wellington (part) | ||||
of Moncton (part) | ||||
of Shediac (part) | ||||
Maple Hills | 32 | Rural community | Southeast | of Dundas (part) |
of Saint-Paul (part) | ||||
of Moncton (part) | ||||
of Shediac (part) | ||||
Salisbury | 33 | Town | Southeast | Village of Salisbury |
of Coverdale (part) | ||||
of Salisbury (part) | ||||
of Moncton (part) | ||||
of Elgin (part)[24] | ||||
Moncton | 34 | City | Southeast | City of Moncton |
of Moncton (part) | ||||
Riverview | 35 | Town | Southeast | Town of Riverview |
Dieppe | 36 | City | Southeast | City of Dieppe |
of Moncton (part) | ||||
of Scoudouc (part) | ||||
Shediac | 37 | Town | Southeast | Town of Shediac |
of Shediac Cape | ||||
of Scoudouc Road | ||||
of Pointe-du-Chêne | ||||
of Scoudouc (part) | ||||
Cap-Acadie | 38 | Town | Southeast | Village of Cap-Pelé |
Rural Community of Beaubassin East | ||||
Strait Shores | 39 | Rural community | Southeast | Village of Port Elgin |
of Baie-Verte | ||||
of Bayfield | ||||
of Botsford | ||||
of Cape Tormentine | ||||
of Westmorland (part) | ||||
of Murray Corner | ||||
Tantramar | 40 | Town | Southeast | Town of Sackville |
Village of Dorchester | ||||
of Dorchester (part) | ||||
of Sackville (part) | ||||
of Pointe de Bute (part) | ||||
Memramcook | 41 | Village | Southeast | Village of Memramcook |
Fundy Albert | 42 | Village | Southeast | Village of Alma |
Village of Hillsborough | ||||
Village of Riverside-Albert | ||||
of Hillsborough (part) | ||||
of Harvey (part) | ||||
of Hopewell (part) | ||||
of Alma (part) | ||||
of Coverdale (part) | ||||
Three Rivers | 43 | Village | Southeast | Village of Petitcodiac |
of Elgin[25] | ||||
of Elgin Parish (part) | ||||
of Salisbury (part) | ||||
of Cardwell (part) | ||||
Butternut Valley | 79 | Rural community | Kings | of Brunswick (part) |
of Studholm | ||||
of Johnston (part) | ||||
of Havelock | ||||
Sussex | 44 | Town | Kings | Town of Sussex |
Village of Sussex Corner | ||||
of Sussex (part) | ||||
Valley Waters | 45 | Village | Kings | Village of Norton |
of Springfield | ||||
of Norton (part) | ||||
of Upham (part) | ||||
of Kars | ||||
of Wickham | ||||
Fundy-St. Martins | 46 | Village | Fundy | Village of St. Martins |
of Saint Martins (part) | ||||
of Simonds (part) | ||||
of Fairfield | ||||
Hampton | 47 | Town | Fundy | Town of Hampton |
of Hampton | ||||
of Upham (part) | ||||
of Norton (part) | ||||
of Kingston (part) | ||||
Quispamsis | 48 | Town | Fundy | Town of Quispamsis |
Rothesay | 49 | Town | Fundy | Town of Rothesay |
Saint John | 50 | City | Fundy | City of Saint John |
Grand Bay-Westfield | 51 | Town | Fundy | Town of Grand Bay-Westfield |
of Westfield (part) | ||||
Fundy Shores | 52 | Rural community | Southwest | of Musquash |
of Lepreau (part) | ||||
Eastern Charlotte | 53 | Rural community | Southwest | Town of St. George |
Village of Blacks Harbour | ||||
of Pennfield (part) | ||||
of Beaver Harbour | ||||
of Fundy Bay | ||||
of St. George (part) | ||||
of Saint Patrick (part) | ||||
Grand Manan | 54 | Village | Southwest | Village of Grand Manan |
Campobello Island | 55 | Rural community | Southwest | Rural Community of Campobello Island |
Saint Andrews | 56 | Town | Southwest | Town of Saint Andrews |
of Bayside | ||||
of Chamcook | ||||
St. Stephen | 57 | Town | Southwest | Town of St. Stephen |
of Western Charlotte (part) | ||||
of St. Stephen | ||||
of Dufferin | ||||
of Saint David (part) | ||||
of Saint James (part) | ||||
of Saint Croix (part) | ||||
of Dennis-Weston | ||||
McAdam | 58 | Village | Southwest | Village of McAdam |
Harvey | 59 | Rural community | Capital Region | Village of Harvey |
of Manners Sutton (part) | ||||
of Dumfries (part) | ||||
of Prince William (part) | ||||
of Kingsclear (part) | ||||
of New Maryland (part) | ||||
Fredericton Junction | 60 | Village | Capital Region | Village of Fredericton Junction |
Tracy | 61 | Village | Capital Region | Village of Tracy |
Hanwell | 62 | Rural community | Capital Region | Rural Community of Hanwell |
of Kingsclear (part) | ||||
Sunbury-York South | 63 | Rural community | Capital Region | of Rusagonis-Waasis (part) |
of New Maryland (part) | ||||
of Gladstone (part) | ||||
New Maryland | 64 | Village | Capital Region | Village of New Maryland |
Oromocto | 65 | Town | Capital Region | Town of Oromocto |
of Lincoln (part) | ||||
Arcadia | 66 | Village | Capital Region | Village of Cambridge-Narrows |
Village of Gagetown | ||||
of Cambridge | ||||
of Upper Gagetown | ||||
of Waterborough (part) | ||||
of Hampstead | ||||
of Canning (part) | ||||
Grand Lake | 67 | Village | Capital Region | Village of Minto |
Village of Chipman | ||||
of Chipman | ||||
of Northfield (part) | ||||
of Canning (part) | ||||
of Sheffield (part) | ||||
of Harcourt (part) | ||||
Nashwaak | 68 | Rural community | Capital Region | Village of Stanley |
of Stanley (part) | ||||
of Saint Marys (part) | ||||
of Estey's Bridge (part) | ||||
of Douglas (part) | ||||
Fredericton | 69 | City | Capital Region | City of Fredericton |
of Saint Marys (part) | ||||
of Estey's Bridge (part) | ||||
of Douglas (part) | ||||
of Rusagonis-Waasis (part) | ||||
of Lincoln (part) | ||||
Central York | 70 | Rural community | Capital Region | of Keswick Ridge |
of Bright (part) | ||||
of Queensbury (part) | ||||
of Douglas (part) | ||||
of Estey's Bridge (part) | ||||
of Kingsclear (part) | ||||
Nackawic-Millville | 71 | Rural community | Capital Region | Town of Nackawic |
Village of Millville | ||||
of Southampton (part) | ||||
of Queensbury (part) | ||||
of Dumfries (part) | ||||
of Bright (part) | ||||
Lakeland Ridges | 72 | Village | Western Valley | Village of Canterbury |
Village of Meductic | ||||
of Benton | ||||
of Canterbury | ||||
of Debec (part) | ||||
of North Lake | ||||
of Woodstock (part) | ||||
Woodstock | 73 | Town | Western Valley | Town of Woodstock |
of Richmond | ||||
of Wakefield (Wakefield Inside portion) | ||||
of Woodstock (part) | ||||
of Upper and Lower Northampton | ||||
of Northampton | ||||
of Debec (part) | ||||
Hartland | 74 | Town | Western Valley | Town of Hartland |
of Somerville | ||||
of Simonds (part) | ||||
of Wakefield (Wakefield Outside portion) | ||||
of Brighton | ||||
of Coldstream | ||||
of Bright (part) | ||||
of Peel (part) | ||||
Carleton North | 76 | Town | Western Valley | Town of Florenceville-Bristol |
Village of Bath | ||||
Village of Centreville | ||||
of Glassville | ||||
of Upper Kent | ||||
of Wicklow | ||||
of Peel (part) | ||||
of Wilmot | ||||
of Lakeville | ||||
of Aberdeen | ||||
of Kent (part) | ||||
of Simonds (part) | ||||
Southern Victoria | 77 | Village | Western Valley | Village of Aroostook |
Village of Perth-Andover | ||||
of Andover (part) | ||||
of Perth (part) | ||||
Tobique Valley | 78 | Village | Western Valley | Village of Plaster Rock |
of Gordon (part) | ||||
of Riley Brook | ||||
of Lorne (part) |
See main article: Regional service commission. The local governance reform will continue the existence of New Brunswick's 12 regional service commissions.[26] Each regional service commission will have one rural district.[9] Two RSCs were renamed in 2023.[27]
The local governance reform will result in 12 rural districts.[18] The proposed names of the rural districts were announced on May 25, 2022[11] and became official on July 21, 2022 when the Rural Districts Establishment Regulation was filed.[28]
Name | Regional service commission | Local service district | |
---|---|---|---|
Northwest | 1 | Northwest | Drummond (part) |
Madawaska | |||
Saint-Basile | |||
Saint-Jacques (part) | |||
Saint-Joseph (part) | |||
Saint-Quentin (part) | |||
Rivière-Verte (part) | |||
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (part) | |||
Sainte-Anne (part) | |||
Saint-Léonard (part) | |||
Restigouche | 2 | Restigouche | Addington (part) |
Chaleur (part) | |||
Eldon (part) | |||
Flatlands | |||
Lorne | |||
Mann Mountain | |||
Balmoral (part) | |||
Chaleur | 3 | Chaleur | Allardville |
Bathurst (part) | |||
Beresford (part) | |||
Big River (part) | |||
New Bandon-Salmon Beach | |||
New Bandon (part) | |||
Acadian Peninsula | 4 | Acadian Peninsula | Miscou Island |
Greater Miramichi | 5 | Greater Miramichi | Black River-Hardwicke |
Blackville (part) | |||
Chatham | |||
Lower Newcastle-Russellville[29] | |||
Glenelg | |||
Nelson (part) | |||
Newcastle (part) | |||
North Esk (part) | |||
South Esk (part) | |||
St. Margarets | |||
Hardwicke (part) | |||
Blissfield (part) | |||
Kent | 6 | Kent | Harcourt (part) |
Carleton | |||
Pointe-Sapin | |||
Cap-de-Richibouctou (part) | |||
Baie Ste. Anne | |||
Hardwicke (part) | |||
Escuminac | |||
Saint-Louis (part) | |||
Southeast | 7 | Southeast | Dorchester (part) |
Coverdale (part) | |||
Westmorland (part) | |||
Alma (part) | |||
Hillsborough (part) | |||
Hopewell (part) | |||
Moncton (part) | |||
Harvey (part) | |||
Sackville (part) | |||
Elgin (part) | |||
Salisbury (part) | |||
Kings | 8 | 8 | Cardwell (part) |
Waterford | |||
Upham (part) | |||
Hammond | |||
Sussex (part) | |||
Johnston (part) | |||
Havelock (part) | |||
Norton (part) | |||
Brunswick (part) | |||
Fundy | 9 | Fundy | Petersville |
Greenwich | |||
Westfield (part) | |||
Kingston (part) | |||
Norton (part) | |||
Saint Martins (part) | |||
Simonds (part) | |||
Rothesay | |||
Southwest | 10 | Southwest | Dumbarton |
McAdam | |||
West Isles | |||
White Head Island | |||
Pennfield (part) | |||
Saint George (part) | |||
Saint James (part) | |||
Western Charlotte (part) | |||
Saint David (part) | |||
Saint Croix (part) | |||
Saint Patrick (part) | |||
Lepreau (part) | |||
Capital Region | 11 | Capital Region | Burton |
Clarendon | |||
Gladstone (part) | |||
Maugerville | |||
Noonan | |||
Stanley (part) | |||
Sheffield (part) | |||
Canning (part) | |||
New Maryland (part) | |||
Blissville | |||
Wirral-Enniskillen | |||
Bright (part) | |||
Prince William (part) | |||
Saint Marys (part) | |||
Chipman (part) | |||
Dumfries (part) | |||
Southampton (part) | |||
Northfield (part) | |||
Manners Sutton (part) | |||
Douglas (part) | |||
Waterborough (part) | |||
Rusagonis-Waasis (part) | |||
Western Valley | 12 | Western Valley | Gordon (part) |
Kent (part) | |||
Lorne (part) | |||
Perth (part) | |||
Denmark | |||
Andover |
New Brunswick
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