Local service district

A local service district (LSD) is a unit of rural municipal government in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador which cover areas outside incorporated cities, towns and villages for provision of municipal services such as fire protection, garbage disposal and sewage.

New Brunswick

There are 269 LSDs in New Brunswick, covering all unincorporated areas. LSD boundaries often (but not always) coincide with parishes. These districts have elected advisory committees that have little legal or tax power, but work with the New Brunswick Department of Local Government to oversee municipal services.

LSDs and incorporated villages are being informed about a new voluntary form of local government known as a rural community. Rural Communities have more power than LSDs but are still not considered incorporated. There is currently one Rural Community, Beaubassin East, which surrounds the Village of Cap-Pele) in New Brunswick. The Village of St-Andre and the surrounding LSD have recently decided to form a rural community. Thirteen LSDs on the Acadian Peninsula were looking at the possibility of forming a rural community in the spring of 2006, but only one of the LSDs (Saumarez) voted yes, while the remaining twelve voted againsts it.

See: List of local service districts in New Brunswick

See: List of Rural Communities in New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

In Newfoundland and Labrador, LSDs cover only areas where residents petition to create one. If one is formed, an advisory committee of five to seven members. All proposals put forth by LSD committees must be approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

External links

* [http://www.gnb.ca/0370/0022-e.pdf New Brunswick Local Service District Advisory Committees]
* [http://www.canlii.org/nl/laws/regu/1996r.747/20051121/whole.html Newfoundland and Labrador Local Service District Regulations]