A new report from two municipal associations has called for more civility in local government.
The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick and Association Francophone des Municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick call the report “Respect in Action.”
UMNB president Brittany Merrifield said creating a culture of respect requires a commitment to training, role clarity and support for civil behaviour.
“Respect in Action speaks to the need to re-centre civility in our places of work,” Merrifield said in a statement.
The associations commissioned the report, with support from the Association of Municipal Administrators of New Brunswick and the Department of Environment and Local Government.
The intention was to provide options and strategies to addressing the growing number of instances of intimidation at the council table and in the community.
The report included recommendations including a public campaign, mandatory pre- and post-election training and looking at lessons from Quebec’s anti-harassment legislation.
“We have heard clearly from our members that there’s a need for more structured rules and protections for councils,” said AFMNB president Kassim Doumbia. “The report released today provides pathways for our members, our associations and the provincial government to create a healthier environment for councils and staff in municipal governments.”
The report has been submitted to Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy and the Local Governance Commission.
Both associations said they will be reviewing the findings with their members in the coming months.
The full report can be found here.
