Amalgamation Plans for New Brunswick’s Municipal Associations

In an unprecedented move, the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB) and the Cities of New Brunswick Association have initiated discussions to merge, aiming to form a united front in their advocacy efforts amidst ongoing municipal reform pressures. This decision stems from a growing realization that a stronger, collective voice is necessary to address common issues affecting municipalities of all sizes across New Brunswick.

Known for its uniqueness in having three municipal associations despite being relatively small, New Brunswick has the UMNB, the Cities of New Brunswick Association, and the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick. The latter represents the francophone municipalities. The intention behind this merger is to streamline advocacy efforts and mitigate the provincial government’s ability to exploit divisions between these associations.

Driven by Provincial Government Challenges

With both the UMNB and the cities association boasting a history spanning around three decades, the push for amalgamation has been partly spurred by challenges arising from the provincial government’s mandated municipal reform process. Fiscal reform ranks as the top issue for 2024 for both associations, with housing and homelessness also being a significant priority. Notably, the City of Saint John has already voted in favor of the merger proposal.

The proposed amalgamation could result in cities and rural communities learning from each other, fostering a better understanding of the unique challenges each type of municipality faces. The UMNB currently includes approximately 55 municipalities, encompassing six of the eight cities in the province, while the cities association comprises eight major cities, including Bathurst, Campbellton, Dieppe, Edmundston, Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, and Saint John.