Copy of – Copy of – About the Department – Revision – Revision

Departmental Overview

The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs supports the economic, social and environmental sustainability of municipalities, communities and regions through the delivery of effective programs, services and supports. As such, the department provides municipalities with the financial and administrative tools to support development of community capacity, regional cooperation, and sound municipal governance.

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Mandate

The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs mandate is to advance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of municipalities, communities, regions, and the province through the delivery of effective programs, services and supports.

THE EXECUTIVE

Mandate

Effective delivery of the departmental mandate requires leadership, vision, planning and coordination in addition to administration and control of delivery of the department’s programs and services. This function is provided by the department’s executive which comprises the Office of the Deputy Minister, the Assistant Deputy Minister and Executive Directors. The executive is the focal point in setting direction for the Department and coordinating and planning its activities to ensure that the department meets its current mandate and serves its clients effectively while assessing and adjusting the department’s programs and services to meet changing realities.

Contact Information

Judith Hearn

Deputy Minister

Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs

Tel: (709) 729-3049

Greg Clarke

Assistant Deputy Minister- Municipalities Branch

Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs

Tel: (709) 729-5326

 

COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Mandate

This Division is responsible for the management, development, planning, execution and evaluation of internal and external communications programs to ensure that clientele, the public and staff, are fully informed about departmental policies, programs and services.

Programs & Services

  • To prepare communications plans for Cabinet submissions and other major departmental programs and initiate a strategy for dealing with all stakeholders including the general public and the news media
  • To promote and maintain productive and harmonious relations between the department and stakeholders
  • To provide an organized and consistent employee communications program to foster a better understanding between the department and its employees
  • To maintain an ongoing contact and liaison with federal, provincial and municipal governments, lobby groups and business organizations
  • To provide advice and counselling on communications matters to the Minister, executive and all levels of staff
  • To prepare news releases, feature articles, speeches, ministerial statements, special reports and presentations and text for pamphlets, booklets and brochures
  • To liaise with the news media, business, community and other governments and arrange and conduct news conferences
  • To conduct departmental advertising

Contact Information

Communications Division
4th Floor (West Block)
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-5449

 

LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND LAND USE PLANNING DIVISION

Mandate

The Local Governance and Land Use Planning Division is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating and managing Local Governance programs and services which aides the Department in realizing its vision of communities with viable sustainable municipal services led by strong local governments. The Land Use Planning Section administers the Urban and Rural Planning Act, 2000 and related sections of the Municipalities Act, 1999.

Public Consultation

Programs & Services

  • Local Governance
    • The promoting of Local Governance throughout the province through the provision of authoritative interpretation and application of existing legislation and directing the revision and development of new legislation
    • The evaluation of local government structures
    • The formulating of regional approaches to service delivery
    • The conducting of reviews of local government administrative and operational practices
  • Training
    • The provision of training opportunities for elected and administrative local government officials
  • Appeals
  • Land Use Planning
    • the review and registration of municipal planning documents;
    • development of the following types of land use plans and associated amendments;
    • maintaining the official registry of land use plans and development regulations
    • providing advice to the Department and Government on matters related to land use planning, municipal planning, expropriations by municipal councils, purchase notices, etc.
    • assisting municipal councils, interested parties, and the public in interpreting municipal plans and development regulations
    • facilitating the development of regional land use plans

Contact Information

Local Governance and Land Use Planning Division
Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
4th Floor (West Block)
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-3090
Fax: (709) 729-0320

Director: Lori Evoy
Tel: (709) 729-6528

 

MUNICIPAL SUPPORT DIVISION

Mandate

The role of the department’s Municipal Support Division is to deliver the programs and services of the department to municipalities and local service districts throughout the province. They are the first line of contact with the Department for municipalities, local service districts and the general public.

Services

  • Municipal inspection services
  • Coordination and monitoring of capital works projects
  • Assessment of infrastructure problems
  • First response for emergency measures to the municipalities within their region
  • They also consult with and provide municipalities and local service districts with advice and guidance on legislative, policy and financial matters related to municipal operations

Contact Information

Municipal Support Division
Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
4th Floor, West Block
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-0259
Fax: (709) 729-7491

Director: Christopher Stamp
Tel: (709) 729-7390

Regional Offices

Dawn Chaplin
Eastern Regional Manager
Tel: 709-729-5020
Fax: (709) 729-7491
Email: DawnChaplin@gov.nl.ca

Angela Pomeroy
Central Regional Manager
Tel: (709) 256-1050
Fax: (709) 256-1060
Email: angelafurey@gov.nl.ca

Holly Scott-Walsh
Western and Labrador Regional Manager
Tel: (709) 637-8010
Fax: (709) 637-2548
Email: hscott@gov.nl.ca

 

MUNICIPAL FINANCE DIVISION

Mandate

The division is responsible for providing financial assistance to municipalities in the form of grants and subsidies as well as providing assistance with all facets of capital borrowing. The division also, in conjunction with the regional offices, advises on budgeting, financial statements and other financial management matters. The division prepares, evaluates and monitors estimates with respect to debt servicing subsidies municipal operating grants, and special assistance grants. The division is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the provincial and municipal liability for municipal long-term debt. The division is responsible for the administration of the Gas Tax Program, as well as, Integrated Community Sustainability Plans.

Programs and Services

Contact Information

Municipal Finance Division
Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
4th Floor (West Block)
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-3057
Fax: (709) 729-5535

Director: Rayanne Hibbs
Tel: (709) 729-5381

 

STRATEGIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Mandate

The Strategic Financial Management Division functions as a shared service providing financial management and general operations services to: Environment and Climate Change; Digital Government and Service NL; Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation; Public Procurement Agency and the 13 entities that report through the departments.

Responsibilities

The Strategic Financial Management Division undertakes the following responsibilities:

  • Budget preparation and forecasting
  • Budget monitoring and control
  • Support for program directors
  • Accounting and internal control processes for revenue and expenditure
  • Financial control and compliance
  • Financial and operational reviews/audits
  • Inventory management
  • Financial reporting
  • Fixed asset control
  • Financial management and advisory services
  • Operational services
  • Interaction with central financial services areas within government including the Office of the Comptroller General, Office of the Auditor General, and the Corporate Financial Services and Budgeting Divisions of the Department of Finance.

Contact Information

Strategic Financial Management Division
Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
4th Floor (West Block)
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-5292
Fax: (709) 729-5535

Departmental Controller: Jennifer Torraville
Tel: (709) 729-0851

 

POLICY AND STRATEGIC PLANNING DIVISION

Mandate

The Strategic Policy and Planning Division is primarily responsible for the development of a policy and planning framework for the Department to support a system of local government that efficiently provides services to residents of the province.

Programs and Services

Policy and Legislative Development

  • Responsible for reviewing and developing policies for the department.
  • Responsible for working with the department of Justice and Public Safety and the Office of Legislative Counsel to review, amend, and develop legislation for the department

Accountability and Transparency

  • Accountable for the department’s planning efforts as well as developing benchmarks for reporting by the Department and municipalities.
  • Accountable for researching, developing and evaluating departmental programs and policies with respect to matters such as local government, community collaboration initiatives, taxation, governance, fiscal frameworks, related federal/provincial relations, strategies, etc.

Departmental Multi-Year Strategic Plan & Annual Reports

  •  Assists and supports the Director and Executive in the development and reporting of departmental goals and objectives as well as providing consulting assistance to Municipal and Provincial Affairs related entities with strategic planning and annual reporting as well as municipalities that wish to undertake strategic planning.

Program Evaluation

  • Responsible for overseeing the development and submission of performance reporting indicators as required by legislation or as deemed appropriate by the department to assess the performance of municipalities within the Province and in comparison with other jurisdictions using cross jurisdictional scans and qualitative comparative analysis.

Community Collaboration

  • Supporting community policy development and planning efforts with respect to ensuring community sustainability.

Contact Information

Policy and Strategic Planning Division
Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
4th Floor (West Block)
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-0259
Fax: (709) 729-7991
 
Director: Tanya Pardy
Tel: (709) 729-1953

 

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Lines of Business

The Department’s lines of business are advanced through five divisions:

Local Governance and Land Use Planning
Supports the vision of viable sustainable communities led by strong local governments, by providing advice and direction on local governance. The Division’s Land Use Planning staff helps promote and support the planned growth of sustainable communities.

Municipal Support
Responsible for the provision of ongoing support and advice on local government issues. Regional offices serve as the primary contact between the Department and local governments throughout the province.

Municipal Finance
Provides financial assistance and guidance to municipalities with respect to funding programs, borrowing, debt servicing, and financial compliance. The Division also provides financial assistance through special assistance grants which provide financial aid to municipalities and related organizations for emergencies and financial difficulties. Municipal Finance also administers both the Canada Community-Building Fund and the Community Enhancement and Employment Program, the latter of which provides short-term employment for workers in rural areas of the province.

Policy and Strategic Planning
Coordinates and supports the Department’s policy agenda and is primarily responsible for the development of a policy and planning framework to help support a system of local government that efficiently provides services to residents of the province. The Division is also responsible for the Department’s accountability and transparency requirements, including responsibility for the Departmental Multi-Year Strategic Plan and Annual Reports, and Departmental program evaluation. Finally, the Division is responsible for the coordination of community collaboration and service-sharing initiatives including stakeholder outreach and consultations.

Strategic Financial Management
This shared-service Division provides the Department, and three other departments and one agency, with financial management and general operations services. The Division is the point of contact for all Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABC) financial reporting through departments. It is also the main Departmental contact for the Department of Finance and Treasury Board Secretariat related to financial functions, budget submissions, public accounts and budget monitoring submitted by departments and ABCs.

 

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