Municipal Reform

Background presentation from a community meeting held on 28 July 2016.

Transcript

1. MUNICIPAL REFORM Incorporation, amalgamation, annexation, and other options for local governance.
2. CONTEXT
3. BACKGROUND  Municipalities Act Review (2005); Thompson, Carver, and Handrahan reports (2009-2013)  Bill 24 – introduced spring 2016, not yet passed  New Municipal Government Act (fall 2016?) Recommendation 38: “That the provincial government… determine the consensus of Islanders in relation to the incorporation of some or all of the province…”
4. PROVINCE’S GOALS  Modernize municipalities  Larger “viable” municipalities  Population of 4,000  Tax base of $200 million  Infrastructure and amenities  Province-wide land use planning  Three Rivers process as model
5. BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE MUNICIPALITIES  Capacity to offer more and better services  Larger tax base  More cost-effective delivery  Better representation  More candidates for council  Local representation = local control  Economic development  Better access to federal/provincial funds  Rural/community development  Development guided by local needs  Attracting new residents – quality of life
6. CONCERNS ABOUT LARGE MUNICIPALITIES  Loss of (rural) identity and character  Especially if joined with an urban core  Increased taxation  Loss of local representation (existing municipalities)  What services do we need/want in rural areas?  Downloading costs  Others…
7. BOUNDARIES Thompson (2009) New Foundations, p. 79
8. SERVICES Federal government Photos: CBC News; Department of Defence; MacPhail Woods Non-government organizations Provincial government (and some municipalities)
9. SERVICES Photos: North River Fire Department; Maritime Electric; APM Centre Service districts & municipalities Utilities and municipalities Municipalities
10. SERVICES Individuals or municipalities Photos: Moore Well Drilling Inc.; CBC News Private companies
11. LAND-USE PLANNING
12. LAND-USE PLANNING  Recommended by reports/commissions since 1970s  Change development  Reduce sprawl (ribbon development)  More effective and efficient service delivery  Reduce costs (roads, snow clearing, power lines, water/waste treatment, insurance, longer bus runs)  Reduce land-use conflicts  Better environmental protection  Watersheds, habitat, scenic landscapes  Climate change (reduce GHG emissions, adaptation)  Best done at local level
13. CONCERNS ABOUT LAND-USE PLANNING  Protecting agriculture  Most farms in unincorporated areas  Right to farm  Land-use planning and preserving farmland  Farmers’ ability to sell land  Over-regulation  Personal freedom on private property  Costs  Local capacity and expertise  Others…
14. OPTIONS  Province-wide incorporation  Approx. 15-20 ‘viable municipalities’  Process is critical (consultation, forced vs. voluntary)  Regional models (ex. NB, BC, QC)  Service districts  Ex. Fire districts, watershed associations, former school/health boards  Collaboration agreements  Ex. ATM Centre in Cornwall  Other variations:  Tiered tax rates, tax rebates (agricultural), wards, user fees,
15. DISCUSSION: OPEN-SPACE WORKSHOP  One topic per table  Discuss the topic with others at the table.  Write down your thoughts on the topic on the large sheets provided.  If at any time you feel you are neither learning nor contributing, or simply have no more to say on the topic, move to another discussion table.  Before you leave, be sure to complete the summary questions and evaluation form.  Regroup in 45 min  Share what we’ve learned  What next
16. WHAT TOPICS DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS?  Taxation  Loss of identity  Local control/representation  Regulation/development control  Process (consultation, forced vs. voluntary)  Boundaries  Rural development  Services  What else?
17. DISCUSSION: GROUND RULES RESPECT  Listen to others and respect their points of view. We’re all friends. PARTICIPATE  You’ve got two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk. Make sure everyone is involved. HAVE AN OPEN MIND  This is a discussion, not a debate. The point is not to win an argument but to hear different points of view and explore many options and solutions.