Patricia Seaman: Navigating the path to local governance reform

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The ongoing implementation of the new local governance model across the province holds the promise of bolstering local governments and regions, enhancing their capacity to fulfill their responsibilities effectively. This holds the promise of empowering communities so that they can play a more influential role in the decision-making process. 

In November 2021, the New Brunswick government unveiled a comprehensive reform plan for local governance in its white paper. The proposed reforms were to be implemented in two phases, with the first focusing on municipal organization and structures. The focus of local governance reform was to be on the regionalization of select existing services to support “vibrant and sustainable communities.” 

During the first phase, the focus shifted from the regionalization of select existing services to amending mandates to transfer the responsibility of new services to local communities. The mandate of the Regional Service Commissions (RSCs) shifted from strengthening cooperation, delivering cost effective services, and improving accountability and transparency to local land use planning, solid waste management, regional tourism promotion, economic development, community development and transportation, public safety, and cost sharing of regional infrastructure.  

The associated costs to providing these services are starting to be understood and with it there is a wait for the second phase of local governance reform related to municipal financing and taxation to begin. The decision to postpone fiscal reforms until 2025 raises questions about the impact to citizens, not just from the service we will be receiving but also on the municipal taxes we will be paying.  

By continuing to wait to begin fiscal reform there remains a centralization of power within the provincial government. While centralization offers efficiency and streamlined decision-making, decentralization promotes local autonomy, responsiveness, and citizen engagement. The key lies in striking a balance that harnesses the advantages of both models while mitigating their disadvantages. 

Decentralization, particularly in the context of the planned local governance reforms, would offer an opportunity to empower local communities further. Local autonomy, responsive governance, citizen engagement, and experimentation would become essential components. However, the continued centralization of power within the provincial government may hinder the realization of these benefits. 

As New Brunswickers, we must call for a reconsideration of the timeline for municipal financing and taxation reforms. The government should prioritize a holistic approach that addresses both structural and fiscal aspects concurrently, ensuring that the benefits of these reforms are fully realized. In doing so, we can move toward a New Brunswick where power is dispersed for the benefit of all – a province where the voices of citizens and elected officials play a vital role in shaping our collective destiny. The time for comprehensive reform is now, not in a distant future mandate. 

Patricia Seaman is vice president of Community of Creative Citizens