about GMSC

Background

The Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission (GMRSC) is located in northeastern New Brunswick and covers most of Northumberland County. The territory has a total land area of 12,950 km, a population of 37,119 (2021), and a tax base of $2,886,427,700(2022). The region contains five local governments (one city, one village, and three rural communities), a large rural district, and three First Nation communities. The board (six members) is composed of the mayors of each municipality and one representative from the Rural District:

  • City of Miramichi

  • Rural Community of Upper Miramichi

  • Village of Doaktown

  • Rural Community of Miramichi RiverValley

  • Rural Community of Alnwick

  • Greater Miramichi Rural District

With three distinct cultures and two linguistic communities, the GMRSC is very multicultural and proud to welcome and promote diversity within the region.

The role of the GMRSC, as well as all RSCs in the province, is to:

  • Deliver, or facilitate the delivery of mandated services to communities.

  • Facilitate voluntary service arrangements among interested communities.

  • Act as a regional forum for collaboration among communities on regional issues.

Included within the Greater Miramichi region but not members of the GMRSC Board are three First Nations communities:

  • Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church)

  • Natoaganeg (Eel Ground)

  • Metepenagiag (Red Bank)

Area Serviced

The Greater Miramichi Region includes the area delineated in the embedded map below. This is the area serviced by the Greater Miramichi Service Commission (GMSC). Please note that this interactive map is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to know if your property is within our jurisdiction.

Services

Planning & Building Services

The Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission (GMRSC) currently provides Planning & Building Services to our Member Municipalities & Communities. View the respective section of this website for a detailed list of services offered.

Solid Waste Services

The GMRSC currently provides Solid Waste Services to our Member Municipalities & Communities. This includes the operation of landfills and transfer stations, the coordination of recycling pickup and household hazardous waste drop-off, and the promotion of waste management 'best practices' (e.g. composting, reducing and reusing).

Regional economic Development Services

Regional Tourism promotion Services

community development Services

regional transportation Services

other Services

Other services, as mandated under the provincial Regional Service Delivery Act, could include:

  • Regional planning;

  • Regional emergency measures planning;

  • Regional policing collaboration; and

  • Regional sport, recreation, and cultural infrastructure planning and cost-sharing.

Costs

Under the Regional Service Delivery model, each community will continue to pay for the services they receive, but through one service provider rather than a range of providers. Municipalities and the Rural Community are invoiced directly by the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission (GMRSC) for services they receive; the Province is invoiced for services provided to unincorporated areas, or Local Service Districts (LSDs). Every service provided by the GMRSC will be accounted for separately including a portion of general overhead. A key principle of the Regional Service Delivery model is that taxpayers only pay for what they receive.

Authority

The Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission (GMRSC) is a corporate body under the enabling provincial legislation. Its authority includes the ability to:

  • Buy, hold, and sell capital assets;

  • Submit applications for borrowing to the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board;

  • Receive or apply for funding under various provincial and federal funding programs;

  • Collect fees for specific services such as issuing building/development permits;

  • To establish ongoing standing, ad hoc, and advisory committees.