CBS applauds upgrade to MYCW funding program
By Mark Squibb, The Shoreline
The Town of Conception Bay South is pleased with changes made by the provincial government to its Multi-Year Capital Works Funding (MYCW) program.
Under the new program, funds will be awarded based on population, which members of council say will prove to be a benefit as the town continues to grow.
“The new government has developed a new program,” said Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, who, during the June 16 public meeting, moved that council accept $6,333,948 in 2027-2031 MYCW funding. “They have devised a plan, and a formula. We never ever knew really – we had a set amount of money, but nothing attached to why we had that money. No matter how much we grew, our funding didn’t grow. So, this one is population-based, which is great to see, because a community like Conception Bay South, with the growth that we’ve experienced over the last number of years, our funding should grow. This funding is very important for us to do our municipal work, our water and sewer work, and different projects throughout the community.”
Mayor Darrin Bent also applauded the changes.
“For years upon years upon years we were getting less money than municipalities with less population and less infrastructure, even by half of us, and it never made any sense,” said Bent.
The mayor said council – and councils of days gone by– petitioned government to upgrade the program.
While Bent spoke highly of the new model, he allowed that the new plan was not “absolutely perfect,” and that some timelines may need to be adjusted. He also suggested that the funding amounts were based “old dollars.”
“What you got for $100 in 2015 is not what you get for $100 anymore,” said Bent. “And that needs to be looked at as well. But I will say, and I voiced it to them, that we are very pleased that there has been recognition that the program was a but antiquated and needed upgrading. We’ll work to mitigate some of the issues that we do have. There’s, I think three or four, and we’ll work together with them on this. But finally, our funding ahs jumped to, at least the proper level of order of communities within the province
He said that in previous funding allocations, the town had typically received about $5.4 million. For example, in 2024, the town accepted $$5,582,448 in 2023-2026 MYCW funding.
Council, less councillor Joshua Barrett, who was absent from the meeting, accepted the motion unanimously.
A provincial government spokesperson has since confirmed for The Shoreline that the program has undergone a review, and that changes have indeed been made.
“A recent review of the Multi‑Year Capital Works (MYCW) Program identified several issues affecting transparency, effectiveness, and long‑term planning,” read the release. “The review found that the program’s structure did not support equitable distribution, efficient project delivery, or effective forward planning, and lacked clearly defined eligibility requirements.”
As a result of the review, funding eligibility is now limited to municipalities with populations greater than 10,000 that do not receive Municipal Operating Grants. Municipalities that meet the criteria have been offered placement in the 2027–2031 MYCW funding program. Funding has been calculated at $233.12 per person, based on 2021 Census data, and is contingent on sufficient provincial funding in the 2027–28 budget.
The spokesperson confirmed that government informed 22 municipalities in writing that unspent
funds previously allocated needed to be spent within project timelines, as funding will not be carried over.
Besides CBS, other municipalities contacted regarding expiring MYCW funding included Bay Roberts, Carbonear, Clarenville, Corner Brook, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Holyrood, Labrador City, Lewisporte, Marystown, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Pasadena, Placentia, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, Springdale, St. John’s, Torbay, Victoria, and Wabush.
Additionally, funding periods will be increased to four years from three, and municipalities will have to self‑administer MYCW and all other federal and provincial municipal infrastructure projects. Any unclaimed funds will revert back to the provincial government after March 31, 2031.