This is the second article in a two-part series that examines the province of New Brunswick’s decision not to make training mandatory for municipal officials, instead providing a voluntary option. You can read Part 1 of the series here.
A long-time civil servant with roots in Charlotte County believes training for municipal officials would have prevented issues now being faced by several municipalities.
Brenda Knight was appointed as supervisor of the rural community of Miramichi River Valley by the Local Governance Commission (LGC) after the municipality lost quorum due to resignations.
It is one of several municipalities that have come under supervision since local governance reform began in 2023.
“It has been an extremely interesting and eye-opening experience,” Knight wrote in an email to the department sharing her thoughts.
Knight worked as the town manager for St. Stephen from 2001 to 2005. She also served as the trustee for Regional Service Commission 8 in 2019, replacing the board of directors for a defined time to provide governance and broad oversight to the commission and its activities, according to the l’Université de Moncton.
In her letter to the department, Knight spoke to the challenges of amalgamating fire departments and said “there should have been training and/or a transition period guided by the local service managers” to better support the municipality in operating those services.
She also said rural plans should have been developed prior to annexing the areas into municipalities.
“Draft rural plans are being developed now, but it is too late for some residents who have been left blindsided by developers, with no one and no process to hear their concerns,” Knight wrote.
Additionally, she said the council was “knee-deep in administrative duties.”
“Had there been previous training of these elected officials, none of this would have occurred or be allowed,” Knight said. “As well, some administrators in the smaller local governments have been in their position for years and continue to do things ‘the way they’ve always been done.’”
Knight said training is “the key element” and “I can well imagine there are other municipalities in the province of New Brunswick in the same position” as Miramichi River Valley.
But training is not something that will become mandatory for municipal leaders and staff in New Brunswick after the provincial government rejected a request by the Local Government Commission (LGC).
The Department of Local Government said it will instead focus on addressing the barriers which may have prevented elected officials from engaging with the training offered in partnership with municipal associations.
However, many local governments and others across the province are backing the commission’s call for mandatory training, including City of Fredericton Chief Administrative Officer Steven Hart.
“The commission rightly highlights a widespread lack of understanding of both foundational principles of local governance and the specific regulations, such as codes of conduct,” he said. “Small communities, in particular, face challenges in navigating the full scope of legislation and responsibilities.”
Ray Riddell, chair of the Fundy Rural District Advisory Council, also expressed his support for mandatory training. He said councils and regional service commissions are often operating outside their legislated mandate due to a “lack of ability to interpret legislation.”
Local reaction to decision
Eastern Charlotte Mayor John Craig said he believes mandatory training would be an asset for local governments in New Brunswick.
“Especially now with amalgamation, you have a fair amount of people that will get elected [who] have never served on any municipal government,” he said, speaking with The Courier.
Craig said he believes training should be mandatory, with retraining mid-mandate.
“At the end of the day, it’s good for them too that people are getting trained because it helps them do their job properly,” he said. “We’re all going to make mistakes, but it helps.”
Craig has been a municipal leader for 19 years, serving three different communities, and said he is still learning.
“If you think you know everything about this business, it’s time to get out,” he said.
Municipal District of St. Stephen (MDSS) Mayor Allan MacEachern said he felt it would be difficult to mandate training, adding he is concerned about the patchwork that might emerge.
“Because then you’re counting on every municipality to provide the same training and have that expertise ready and available,” MacEachern said.
He said he knows the province is concerned about the level of turnover within municipalities and it seemed the department was listening, but has since backed away from the support for mandatory training.
“I think it would be better accepted if it came from the province because you’re depending on each municipality to do it [and] trust that’s the right direction to be led and to be taught,” he said.
Saint Andrews Mayor Kate Akagi said she received training when she was first elected and found it helpful.
“The training was great. We went to Fredericton, we spent the two days there learning all about how municipalities work and the operation,” she said. “I think it is imperative that they train new people [who] are trying to do this job as to what they have to do.”
Akagi said the time commitment was the most surprising thing about joining local government, adding it isn’t just one or two meetings a month.
“I think they need the province to step in and do the training,” she said. “I think that is imperative.”
Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy said he welcomes the idea of councils doing their own orientation package, but training will be available from the province. In his time as chief administrative officer for the Town of Quispamsis, he said orientation was important in identifying the varying time commitments, salary expectations, among other aspects of the job.
He said he does understand the frustration municipalities feel, especially newly created ones and newly elected leaders.
“I think when you get the newly elected folks in the spring knowing that this is the way it is and maybe we’ve gotten beyond the frustration … with the changes that we weren’t totally thrilled with, then they’ll start to realize that this is the way it is,” he said. “We’re not going to get rid of the old structure that was put in place three years ago.”
Kennedy said that is why there should be more collaboration between municipalities and the department.
“If we have questions, you know, talk to the department,” he said. “If we have training that’s afforded to us, we should all make sure that we take part in that, and then that’s going to help us provide good governance to the people who rely on us and the people who elected us.”
Municipal elections are scheduled to be held May 11.
