Regional service commission

A regional service commission (RSC) is an administrative entity in the province of New Brunswick, Canada.^[1] As the name implies, an RSC administers services on a regional level.^[2]

RSCs are not incorporated municipal entities and lack direct taxation powers.

A 2021 white paper recommended major reforms to New Brunswick's local governance system that took effect in 2023, with increased RSC responsibilities and some boundary adjustments.^[3]

Functions

RSCs were originally required to provide regional planning, local planning in local service districts (LSD) and participating local governments, solid waste management, policing collaboration, emergency measures planning, and facilitating cost-sharing agreements between member governance units.^[4]

The 2023 local governance reforms added economic development, community development, tourism promotion, regional transportation, cost-sharing on recreation infrastructure, and public safety committees to the mandates of RSCs.^[5]

History

Before the creation of RSCs, regional planning and waste management were managed by two systems of planning commissions and solid waste commissions; these sets of commissions divided the province in different ways.

Finn Report

The concept of a regional administrative body that replaced existing regional commissions in a unified body was proposed by the Finn Report^[6] in 2008 as part of a sweeping reform of the province's local governance bodies. Twelve RSCs would administer services in 53 municipalities with boundaries based on communities of interest rather than existing municipal and LSD boundaries.

The Graham government shelved the Finn Report shortly after it was released, with Graham telling reporters it would be a mistake to implement the changes during the 2008 financial crisis.^[7]

Creation

RSCs were created by the Alward government in 2012, taking effect on 1 January 2013. The initial boards consisted of mayors of the member municipalities and rural communities and LSD representatives appointed by the provincial government.

Instead of using the RSC boundaries proposed by Finn, the Alward government based RSC boundaries on existing governance units. The period between announcement and implementation allowed for municipalities and LSDs to request transfer to another RSC; Belledune, Saint-Quentin, and Hampton all took advantage of this policy to successfully lobby for a change in which RSC they would belong to.

2023 changes

All local service districts were dissolved, with all areas not within a municipality formed rural districts. Minor boundary changes were common; Hampton was moved from the Kings RSC to Fundy.^{[citation needed]}

Board

Each RSC is governed by a board consisting of all mayors within the RSC and chair of the advisory board of the RSC's rural district.^[8]

Official languages

The Official Languages Act^[9] (OLA) applies to all RSCs with a 20% linguistic minority, a city, or a municipality with a 20% linguistic minority. As of 2017 eight RSCs are subject to the OLA.^[10]

List of regional service commissions

The twelve RSCs were originally given only numbers, counting roughly clockwise from the northwestern corner of the province; the original order is retained here. Most adopted more descriptive names within two years of their creation.

Municipality types: (C) city, (T) town, (VL) village, (RC) rural community, (RM) regional municipality

Northwest Regional Service Commission

The NWRSC serves primarily francophone communities in the northwestern corner of the province, including all of Madawaska County, western Restigouche County, and northern Victoria County.

Edmundston (C)
Grand Falls (T)
Haut-Madawaska (T)
Saint-Quentin (T)
Vallée-des-Rivières (T)
Northwest Rural District

Restigouche Regional Service Commission

The RRSC serves most of Restigouche County and is the smallest RSC.

Bois-Joli (VL)
Campbellton (C)
Heron Bay (T)
Kedgwick (RC)
Restigouche Rural District

Chaleur Regional Service Commission

The CRSC serves western and central Gloucester County and the eastern edge of Restigouche County.

Bathurst (C)
Belle-Baie (T)
Belledune (VL)
Chaleur Rural District

Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission

Serves eastern Gloucester County and Neguac, which forms an exclave surrounded by the Greater Miramichi RSC.

Caraquet (T)
Hautes-Terres (T)
Île-de-Lamèque (T)
Neguac (VL)
Rivière-du-Nord (T)
Shippagan (T)
Tracadie (RM)
Acadian Peninsula Rural District

Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission

Serves most of Northumberland County plus the rural community of Upper Miramichi.

Alnwick (RC)
Doaktown (VL)
Miramichi River Valley (RC)
Miramichi (C)
Upper Miramichi (RC)
Greater Miramichi Rural District

Kent Regional Service Commission

Serves Kent County and Rogersville Parish in Northumberland County.

Beaurivage (T)
Beausoleil (RC)
Champdoré (T)
Five Rivers (VL)
Grand-Bouctouche (T)
Nouvelle-Arcadie (VL)
Kent Rural District

Southeast Regional Service Commission

Serves Westmorland and Albert Counties.

Cap-Acadie (T)
Dieppe (C)
Fundy Albert (VL)
Maple Hills (RC)
Memramcook (VL)
Moncton (C)
Riverview (T)
Salisbury (T)
Shediac (T)
Strait Shores (RC)
Tantramar (T)
Three Rivers (VL)
Southeast Rural District

Kings Regional Service Commission

Serves eastern Kings County plus three LSDs in Queens County. Kept its original name until the local governance reform.^[11]

Butternut Valley (RC)
Sussex (T)
Valley Waters (VL)
Kings Rural District

Fundy Regional Service Commission

Serves Saint John County, western Kings County, and southwestern Queens County.

Fundy-St. Martins (VL)
Grand Bay-Westfield (T)
Hampton (T)
Quispamsis (T)
Rothesay (T)
Saint John (C)
Fundy Rural District

Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission

Serves most of Charlotte County plus Manners Sutton and McAdam Parishes in York County.

Campobello Island (RC)
Eastern Charlotte (RC)
Fundy Shores (RC)
Grand Manan (VL)
McAdam (VL)
Saint Andrews (T)
St. Stephen (T)
Southwest Rural District

Capital Region Service Commission

Serves Sunbury County, most of York County, most of Queens County, and Clarendon Parish in Charlotte County. Kept its original name until shortly before the local governance reform.^{[citation needed]}

Arcadia (VL)
Central York (RC)
Fredericton (C)
Fredericton Junction (VL)
Grand Lake (VL)
Hanwell (RC)
Harvey (RC)
Nackawic-Millville (RC)
Nashwaak (RC)
New Maryland (VL)
Oromocto (T)
Sunbury-York South (RC)
Tracy (VL)
Capital Region Rural District

Western Valley Regional Service Commission

Serves Carleton County, most of Victoria County, and Canterbury and North Lake Parishes in York County.

Carleton North (T)
Hartland (T)
Lakeland Ridges (VL)
Southern Victoria (VL)
Tobique Valley (VL)
Woodstock (T)
Western Valley Rural District

References

^ "Your Questions Answere" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. December 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^ "Structure of the new Regional Service Commissions". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ Working together for vibrant and sustainable communities (PDF) (Report). Government of New Brunswick. November 2021. ISBN 978-1-4605-2959-1. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ "Mandated Services". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ "Government releases plan to reform local governance system" (Press release). Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^ Finn, Jean-Guy (November 2008). "Building Stronger Local Governments and Regions: An Action Plan for the Future of Local Governance in New Brunswi" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ Shingler, Ben (December 19, 2008). "Towns, cities report shelved". Telegraph-Journal. pp. A1–A2. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
^ "Rural Districts" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
^ "Chapter O-0.5 - Official Languages Act". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ "Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick tables fourth Annual Report". Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ Bates, Andrew (5 October 2023). "Kings Regional Service Commission releases draft budget". Penticton Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2024.

[1] "Your Questions Answere" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. December 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

[2] "Structure of the new Regional Service Commissions". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

[3] Working together for vibrant and sustainable communities (PDF) (Report). Government of New Brunswick. November 2021. ISBN 978-1-4605-2959-1. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

[4] "Mandated Services". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

[5] "Government releases plan to reform local governance system" (Press release). Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

[6] Finn, Jean-Guy (November 2008). "Building Stronger Local Governments and Regions: An Action Plan for the Future of Local Governance in New Brunswi" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

[7] Shingler, Ben (December 19, 2008). "Towns, cities report shelved". Telegraph-Journal. pp. A1–A2. Retrieved 2022-10-07.

[8] "Rural Districts" (PDF). Government of New Brunswick. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.

[9] "Chapter O-0.5 - Official Languages Act". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

[OLA-10] "Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick tables fourth Annual Report". Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

[11] Bates, Andrew (5 October 2023). "Kings Regional Service Commission releases draft budget". Penticton Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2024.