A government MP says they should be moving away from the punishment component of new federal regulations covering sewage disposal and instead helping communities to comply.

Liberal Scott Simms says only three municipalities in this province – St. John’s, Gander and Springdale – met the deadline to apply for transitional authority. Each is years away from actually building the necessary infrastructure to meet next year’s due date.

Municipal leaders held an emergency forum on Friday to try to convince government that they have neither the money, the expertise nor the wherewithal to meet the requirements. The penalties for failing to do so are harsh and could result in jail time for those who run our towns and cities.

Central Newfoundland MP Scott Simms doesn’t believe that is the right course of action. He says there is fear out there that the authorities will come in and serve papers.

He wants to see more and better communication on the regulations from Ottawa.

More Calls to Double Funding from Gas Tax

Meanwhile Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador is echoing a call from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to permanently double the gas tax fund.

A federal election will be called this week and Canadian municipalities are calling on federal parties to commit to doubling the gas tax fund transfer to help fund municipalities.

MNL President Tony Keats says it’s one of the major funding sources for towns and cities. The federal government doubled the fund this year as a one-of, but Keats says they’d like to see it stay.

Municipalities across the province are struggling to come up with the resources and money it will take to meet federal wastewater regulations, while meeting other needs like safe drinking water and roads infrastructure.