FREDERICTON (GNB) – Residents of six local service districts in northwestern New Brunswick will head to the polls on Monday, Nov. 14 for a plebiscite on a community restructuring project.

People in the local service districts of Saint-François, Clair, Baker-Brook, Saint-Hilaire, Lac-Baker and Madawaska will vote on forming a rural community with the villages of Saint-Hilaire, Baker-Brook, Clair and Saint-Francois-de-Madawaska. The municipal councils of the four villages already voted in favour of the restructuring through unanimous resolutions.

“I would like to commend the tremendous work accomplished by the feasibility study committee for Haut-Madawaska,” said Environment and Local Government Minister Serge Rousselle. “This project would allow the communities to work together to ensure their long-term economic and social prosperity. I encourage residents to take an active role in their communities by casting their votes.”

Support for establishing a rural community will be considered sufficient if a majority of voters (50 per cent plus one) are in favour.

Advance polls will be held between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. Ordinary polls will be held on Monday, Nov. 14 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Electors should receive individual voter Information cards in the mail during the week of Oct. 31, setting out all polling stations for their polling division. A summary of the feasibility study report will also be shared with residents prior to the plebiscite.

“The card is not required to be able to vote, but bringing it speeds up the process at the poll,” said Michael Quinn, municipal electoral officer. “People who are not on the voters' list may also be added at the polls by providing appropriate identification that, together, shows the voter’s name, current address and signature.”

Voters must be 18 years old on or before Nov. 14, 2016, must be a Canadian citizen, must have lived in the province for at least 40 days immediately before the date of the plebiscite, and must ordinarily reside in the community.

Results will be available on the Elections NB website on Nov. 14 after 8 p.m.