- Where can I get a copy of the Community Relocation Policy?
- What community vote threshold is required under the Policy?
- What is the definition of a permanent resident under the Policy?
- What consideration is made by the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs during residency determination as it relates to my rights and freedoms?
- What is the definition of a commercial property owner under the Policy?
- What savings are required to Government for a community to be considered for relocation?
- What communities are eligible to request relocation assistance?
- How does a community request relocation assistance?
- Is an Expression of Interest ballot considered a vote under the Community Relocation Policy?
- What financial assistance does Government offer for community relocation?
- Do seasonal residential property owners get any relocation financial assistance?
- What services would be withdrawn in a relocated community?
- Will I be forced to move?
- Can I access my property after the community relocates?
- I have more questions, Who can I contact?
The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs may provide information to communities on this policy. However, the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs will only consider relocation assistance requests that are community-driven.
1. Where can I get a copy of the Community Relocation Policy?
The Community Relocation Policy can be obtained by contacting (709)729-7143 or MPAinfo@gov.nl.ca, or can be viewed here.
2. What community vote threshold is required under the Policy?
- A vote on relocation must demonstrate that 75 per cent or more of voting-aged Permanent Residents wish to relocate.
3. What is the definition of a Permanent Resident under the Policy?
The following rules shall determine residency of a person for the purpose of the Community Relocation Policy:
- A person shall be a resident of the place where he or she lives and sleeps year round, in the 365 days immediately preceding the relocation request date.
- Residency is not lost by a person who leaves that residence for temporary purposes only, such as:
- The individual was temporarily absent for a vacation or holiday;
- The individual was temporarily absent for medical reasons substantiated by a doctor’s note satisfactory to the Minister;
- The individual was temporarily absent to care for a close relative outside the relocating community;
- The individual or his/her spouse worked outside the Community and regularly returned to the Community between periods of outside employment; or
- The individual was temporarily incarcerated.
- A person who has left his or her place of residence in the Community to pursue a course of study is considered to be a permanent resident in the place where he or she was residing immediately before leaving to pursue the course of study, and he or she is considered to continue to have that permanent residence until he or she completes or abandons the course of study.
- Where none of the reasons in (ii) or (iii) apply, a person who goes to a place outside the Community for a period of more than six cumulative months, in the one-year period preceding the relocation request date, ceases to be a permanent resident in the community, although he or she may intend to return at some future time, including a person residing in a Long-Term Care Home, Personal Care Home, or Retirement Home.
- A person shall, for the purpose of the Community Relocation Policy, have only one place of residency.
- Proof of residency must be satisfactory to the Department.
Where necessary, residency determinations will consider any potential implications of individuals’ rights under section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Act, 2010. Any decision made as a result of this consideration will be provided to the individual with clear rationale.
4. What consideration is made by the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs during residency determination as it relates to my rights and freedoms?
Where necessary, residency determinations will consider any potential implications of individuals’ rights under section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Act, 2010. Any decision made as a result of this consideration will be provided to the individual with clear rationale.
5. What is the definition of a commercial property owner under the Policy?
An individual or company that owns property within the Community and operates a commercial enterprise on that property or that owns a rental property in the community. The commercial enterprise must be operating at least 50 per cent of the time for the applicable industry’s operating season within the 365 days immediately preceding the relocation request date.
6. What savings are required to Government for a community to be considered for relocation?
The Cost Benefit Analysis for a request will be calculated over a 20 year time-frame and will require substantial net savings to Government in the order of $10 million for a community to be considered for relocation.
7. What communities are eligible to request relocation assistance?
A community includes municipalities, local service districts, and/or unincorporated areas.
8. How does a community request relocation assistance?
Communities (or a representative of a community) must gauge the level of community support for relocation by undertaking an Expression of Interest by submitting ballots to the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs for consideration. An Expression of Interest ballot template can be viewed here. The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs provides guidance through a template for this process.
9. Is an Expression of Interest ballot considered a vote under the Community Relocation Policy?
No. The Expression of Interest helps to establish what level of community support there is for relocation, which allows the community and the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs to determine whether there is enough support to be formally considered under the Policy.
10. What financial assistance does Government offer for community relocation?
Financial assistance under the Community Relocation Policy is only provided to the following eligible recipients:
Permanent Residential Property Owner/s and their minor dependents
- $250,000 (household of 1)
- $260,000 (household of 2)
- $270,000 (household of 3 or more)
Commercial Property Owner
- 2 times the assessed value of their commercial property as determined by the Municipal Assessment Agency
Permanent Resident of voting age (i.e., 18 years of age or older) that does not own a residential property
- $10,000
11. Do seasonal residential property owners get any relocation financial assistance?
No. Non-Resident Residential Property Owners are not compensated under the Community Relocation Policy.
12. What services would be withdrawn in a relocated community?
All municipal and provincial services in a relocated community would be withdrawn, which may include:
- Garbage collection;
- Water and sewer;
- Street lighting;
- Road maintenance;
- Ferry service;
- School services;
- Health services;
- Electricity.
13. Will I be forced to move?
No. A Permanent Resident who wishes to remain in the community will not be required to relocate. However, no provincial services will be provided to anyone choosing to remain in a relocated community. Permanent Residents opting to remain in a relocated community will retain the option of accepting the supports available under the Community Relocation Policy for one year subsequent to the date that the Minister approves relocation financial assistance.
14. Can I access my property after the community relocates?
Yes. Property owners who receive financial assistance under the Community Relocation Policy to relocate will retain title to their properties and can access the properties as desired. Likewise, non-resident residential property owners can access their properties as desired. However, there will be no provincial or municipal services in the community. Accessing and occupying properties in relocated communities would be done so at the cost/risk of property owners.
15. I have more questions, who can I contact?
You may contact (709)729-7143 or MPAinfo@gov.nl.ca for additional information.