Supporting economic and labour force development and newcomer retention services for regional service commissions is the focus of some new funding, the province announced Tuesday.
Government officials committed up to $40 million over the next 10 years for commissions to expand services to meet new responsibilities under their local governance reforms.
Trevor Holder, New Brunswick’s minister of post-secondary education, training and labour, said economic development is critical to New Brunswick’s continued growth.
“This support will help create the conditions to sustain our recent success,” he said. “Our government is also committed to empowering regions to develop their economy at the local level.”
The province says it’s signing long-term, performance-based funding agreements with all commissions, except the Fundy Regional Service Commission, which already has an agreement in place.
Officials say each commission has the flexibility to deliver new services directly or by paying a third party. The agreements will begin this fiscal year.
Daniel Allain, the province’s local government and governance reform minister, said New Brunswick wants to do everything it can to promote collaboration between communities.
It will also RSCs to tackle economic development in ways that work for them.
“These agreements will provide our regions with the ability to forge their own future through local decision-making,” he said.