Regional government seen as answer to Mount Moriah-Corner Brook water dispute
'Nobody loses their identity,' says MNL president
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador says it can't play referee in a dispute between two west coast communities about water service.
Instead, it's encouraging communities to look at regional government as a way to avoid contract disputes about shared services.
It's a concept that's been talked about for decades, and is about to be put to the test with pilot projects in the new year.
"We're looking at a new regional governing structure for Newfoundland and Labrador that will allow municipalities to come together an work on areas such as water resources, land use planning, economic development," said Karen Oldford, the president of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL).
"By coming together, there is an ability to share resources that exist, and to look at what's missing," she told CBC Radio's Corner Brook Morning Show.
Drinking water, waste water disposal, fire and emergency services and recreation are all examples of areas where towns can work together, she said.
The big difference under regional government "would be a more formalized approach on how they work together, and it may include more than two or three municipalities, it may include six or seven."
It would also include a dispute-settling mechanism, such as referral to a third party, or an independent arbitrator.
Working out the bugs
The Mount Moriah — Corner Brook squabble over drinking water, with Corner Brook threatening to turn off the taps if an agreement is not signed by Jan. 8, is an example how things can currently go off the rails, said Oldford.
"You try to work out contracts, and contracts and negotiations can always lead to this outcome."
Oldford said that MNL has put out a call for pilot projects.
"We have a number of municipalities that are interested," she said, and in the new year the group will choose some test sites, to "work out the bugs."
Each town would maintain its administrative structure, but share resources they can't afford, on their own.
"Nobody loses their identity by working together," said Oldford.