Policy issues related to the governance of local service boards in Northern Ontario

More than half of residents in Northern Ontario are living in unincorporated communities where there is no country-level system of government. Local service boards (LSB) have been contracted by the Government of Ontario to provide municipal-level services, however residents are faced with increasing challenges as the current legislative framework is failing. Recent impediments to new provincial regulations for water and waste water management, increasing costs of energy and solid waste disposal, higher insurance and audit costs and a declining population are threatening the sustainability of the communities that already suffering from ongoing social and economic issues. This paper provides a detailed map of LSBs, presents the common issues facing the communities, and offers policy recommendations to help redress the situation. Keywords: Northern Ontario, local service boards (LSB), municipal-level service, sustainability.