NDP MHA Sheilagh O’Leary (St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi) questioned the government in the House of Assembly today on the lack of consultation done with municipal groups ahead of making significant changes to the Multi-Year Capital Works (MYCW) program in Budget 2026.
Municipalities NL has spoken out on the changes, highlighting that not only were meaningful consultations done prior to the decision to change the program – but that the changes do not reflect the priorities or recommendations consistently brought forward by municipalities.
“Speaker, Municipalities NL has vocalized their deep concern with the changes made to the province’s Multi-Year Capital Works program – highlighting the lack of meaningful consultation in the development of the changes,” O’Leary said. “They say the changes “do not reflect the priorities or recommendations consistently brought forward by municipalities.”
“I ask the Minister, why weren’t key municipal groups consulted before changes were made, and should we be concerned that other changes in the budget were made without proper consultation?”
Among the issues with lack of consultation, the changes made hinder the 15 municipalities who have been removed from the program, making it harder for them to plan mutli-year projects. The seven municipalities that remaining in the program have less annual funding, as the program now spans four years over the former three year period with the same funding amount.
“I know just how important it is for municipalities to have sustainable, reliable funding,” O’Leary adds. “Municipalities NL has put forward clear recommendations, yet these changes fail to reflect the real needs of our communities. When government makes decisions with limited consultation that increase stress and strain instead of making things easier, it raises serious concerns.”
O’Leary adds that hearing about the lack of consultations is very troubling, and questions how many other changes were made in the budget without proper consultation.