New Brunswick's Ambitious New Municipal Reform Plan Set to Shake Up Charlotte County

On Thursday, New Brunswick unveiled an ambitious new municipal reform plan that will new mass amalgamation across the province. 

"New Brunswickers having been talking about municipal reform for the past 25 years, but we've never gone forward with it," said New Brunswick Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform Daniel Allain. "We believe it's time. There's a risk of doing nothing. We could lose the services we have today if we don't. This is for the next generation, and I wish that my forefathers had done this 25 years ago. Charlotte County, for instance, has so much potential but we have to build our capacity."

Minister Allain says, despite amalgamating many smaller communities, taxes likely won't go up for current residents of local service districts who are now becoming part of a municipality. 

"This is one of the biggest concerns we confronted during the consultation process. Any new entity will have different tax rates under one government structure. If you don't receive a service in one part of town, you won't be paying for it. Only the people who use this service will pay for it. If by any chance there is an increase in taxes, it will be a phased in a approach that could be spread out over five years."

Minister Allain addressed the fact that the municipal reform plan will require many by-elections and elections across the province. Any new entity that increases in population by over 50% will require a full election in November 2022. 

St. George and Blacks Harbour will be having a full election in November 2022 to elect a council for the newly formed and yet to be named Eastern Charlotte Entity.