WHAT IS A RURAL DISTRICT?
A rural district is a new structure for New Brunswick that brings together former local service districts (LSD) - or parts of them - that are outside local government boundaries. Rural districts are unincorporated areas. Currently, there are 236 LSDs. With reform, many LSDs have been split, and partial or whole LSDs have either joined a local government, joined together to form a new local government, or became part of a rural district. As of January 1st, 2023, there will be one rural district in each of New Brunswick’s 12 regions.
WHY DO WE NEED RURAL DISTRICTS?
The vision of local governance reform in New Brunswick is to work together for vibrant and sustainable communities.
Rural districts have been established to ensure that residents outside local governments continue to receive important services, such as emergency measures, police and fire services, land use planning, animal control, management of dangerous and unsightly premises, and solid waste management. These services will be coordinated by the provincial government through a rural district manager.
Rural districts will help meet another very important need: elected representation at the local level for all New Brunswickers.
ARE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PAID?
Yes. Councillors receive $5,000 per year and the chair of the rural district advisory council receives $7,000.
IS THERE A MAYOR OF A RURAL DISTRICT?
No. Rural districts are unincorporated areas that each have a Rural District Manager and where the Minister has the final authority for decision-making. The elected councillors of the rural district advisory councils play an important advisory role.
A chair will be selected from amongst the elected councillors. The council will hold at least four meetings per year, and councillors will be paid for their work. The chair will also represent the rural district on the Regional Service Commission (RSC) board.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CURRENT LOCAL SERVICE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEES?
On December 31st, 2022, all local service district (LSD) advisory committees elected in accordance with the Local Governance Act will be dissolved.
ADVISORY COUNCIL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the locally elected representatives for the constituents of the rural district.
- Build and sustain an effective working relationship with various stakeholders and partners to:
- Advise on services of the rural district;
- Advise on community planning matters, at the Minister’s request;
- Participate in advisory committee meetings as required, as well as other community meetings announced by the Minister;
- Select a chair for the advisory council; and
- The Chair will sit on the board of the Regional Service Commission (RSC). In regions where there are fewer than six voting members on the RSC board (Restigouche RSC, Chaleur RSC and Kings RSC), an additional councillor will be required to be a member of the RSC board.