Province Funds Task Force to Deal With Municipal Challenges

The province and municipalities are working together on a task force to strengthen communities and protect services for families.

The province has committed $100,000 to the Towns Task Force, which will study the challenges municipalities across Nova Scotia are facing.

"Tackling these issues won't be easy," said Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell. "Members of the Towns Task Force have agreed to share their time and expertise, and I applaud them for making this commitment. Their recommendations will help us keep our communities great places to live, work and raise families."

The task force will address issues such as development outside town boundaries, finding ways to work together to deliver services at lower costs, and finding room to grow.

The volunteer members met Thursday, June 16 and will present preliminary findings to the province this fall.

The province will fund research and other work the task force deems necessary.

"Towns in Nova Scotia have a wide range of pressures, everything from declining tax bases to expanding boundaries," said Kentville Mayor David Corkum, chair of the task force. "We need to keep an open mind and work together to find creative solutions to these problems."

Cumberland County Warden Keith Hunter said the ideas discussed will help all municipalities.

"I'm looking forward to sharing ideas with my colleagues. There won't be a one-size-fits-all solution to these issues, but we will all benefit if we help each other," said Mr. Hunter.

The Towns Task Force is a joint effort of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the province.

Municipal representatives are Mr. Corkum, Mr. Hunter, UNSM president and Port Hawkesbury Mayor Billy Joe MacLean, Lockeport Mayor Darian Huskilson, Lunenburg councillor Sandra Statton and HRM councillor Russell Walker.

There are also representatives of the Association of Municipal Administrators, the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations on the task force.