September 16th, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UMNB Welcomes and re-iterates the call for more training for municipal officials.
Fredericton N.B.- The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB) welcomes the New Brunswick Local Government Commission’s call for more training to support elected officials across New Brunswick. The Commission released its annual report today outlining ten recommendations, including that the Department of Local Government impose pre and post-election training for municipal officials.
“The UMNB has long advocated for more training opportunities for elected officials,” said Brittany Merrifield, President of the UMNB. “Local governments of all sizes continue to face challenges as they work through municipal reform. With an election on the horizon, now is the time to provide candidates with sessions to raise awareness of what it means to serve on council and offer mandatory training to newly elected mayors and councillors following the election.”
The Local Governance Commission’s annual report recommends mandatory training on key themes such as roles and responsibilities, procedural by-laws, closed meetings, fiscal management, and legislative interpretation. The commission further recommends that it be given the power to sanction council members should they not follow through on mandatory training in a defined time-period.
“Having access to centralized training is critical to the success of elected officials. UMNB is ready to support the Local Government Commission and the Government of New Brunswick to ensure local leaders have access to the best information on an ongoing basis,” said Merrifield. “More training opportunities will lead to stronger councils and better communities.
About UMNB: The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB) is a bilingual association of 60 local governments of all sizes, representing over 80% of New Brunswick’s population. Together, our members tackle local challenges and share solutions to make life better for their citizens.
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