The Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills is providing $165,000 to support the Professional Municipal Administrators of Newfoundland and Labrador in developing an Onboarding and Continuous Learning Program for Municipal Staff.

The Professional Municipal Administrators of Newfoundland and Labrador is an organization of municipal administrators, town and city managers, clerks and department heads, all working to support strong leadership and effective management in local government across the province. The organization has previously delivered training to municipal administrators through various initiatives.

This funding will support Phase 1 of a new project, which is focused on research, planning and curriculum design to help address training gaps and improve staff retention, especially in smaller communities. Municipal administration has become an increasingly complex field, with staff coming from a wide range of backgrounds and working under varying conditions. Smaller municipalities often have limited staffing, which can result in high workloads, limited support for new hires and challenges keeping up with operational demands.

This phase will identify the competencies required to meet current and future labour market needs, engage stakeholders and outline a curriculum framework and delivery model. A virtual, self-paced approach is being recommended to ensure the training is accessible to staff in rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Once developed, the program will offer training to help onboard new staff, support the ongoing development of existing staff and help attract more people to careers in municipal administration. The roll-out of the training is expected to begin in 2026-27.

This work is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.

Funding for this project is made possible through the Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Development Agreement.

Quotes

"Municipal staff play a vital role in delivering services to people in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. This investment will help strengthen the capacity of local governments by supporting training that is accessible, relevant and designed to meet the needs of today's municipal workforce.

Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

"Our organization is tremendously grateful for the support from the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills to carry out phase one of this project. PMA is eager to support the municipal administrators of Newfoundland and Labrador through new training programs that address the changing municipal landscape and the roles of staff within. Ultimately, our goal is to empower current and incoming administrators with the knowledge, tools and support they need to feel confident and perform their roles with excellence."

Connie Reid, Professional Municipal Administrators of Newfoundland and Labrador President