Fredericton / Sunbury‑York South — The Crown withdrew two charges Monday against Marjorie Turner, the former chief administrative officer (CAO) of Sunbury‑York South, who had called the RCMP after residents attended the municipal office seeking public records.
Charges linked to access to public documents
Turner, who was dismissed from her post last summer, faced two counts under New Brunswick’s Local Governance Act alleging she failed to provide documents for public examination. The charges related to incidents in late 2024 when residents attended the municipal office to request council records.
Two residents, Mac Burns and Melissa Gillis, confirmed to CBC News that Turner had contacted police after they sought public documents. Burns said he had been trying to obtain meeting minutes tied to a matter that had been discussed in closed session.
Police described the charges as "extremely rare."
The matter was set for trial Monday in Fredericton provincial court. Instead, the Crown withdrew both charges without offering an explanation in open court.
Local context and communities affected
Sunbury‑York South is a rural municipality established under New Brunswick’s local governance reforms in 2023. It encompasses the communities of Nasonworth, Rusagonis, Waasis and Charters Settlement. As CAO, Turner was the senior administrative official responsible for carrying out council decisions and overseeing municipal operations until her termination last summer.
The incident highlighted tensions between residents seeking access to municipal records and the conduct of a municipal official, prompting scrutiny from the community and media attention across the region.
Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Late 2024 | Residents attended the municipal office seeking public records; Turner called police. |
| Summer 2025 | Marjorie Turner was terminated as CAO. |
| 2025 | Turner was charged with two counts under the Local Governance Act. |
| Monday, August 10, 2026 | Crown withdrew both charges in Fredericton provincial court. |
Reactions and unanswered questions
Defence counsel has argued publicly that the charges should not have been laid. In a short video clip posted alongside reporting, a defence spokesperson said:
"Charges should never have been made in the first place,"
Police previously characterised the criminal proceedings as rare, and the Crown’s sudden withdrawal leaves questions for residents and municipal officials about the reasons for both the original charges and their dismissal. No reasons were provided in court when the Crown discontinued the case.
What the decision means locally
The withdrawal closes the criminal matter against Turner but does not address other administrative or employment-related consequences tied to her termination last summer. For residents who sought records, the episode has underscored tensions around transparency and access to municipal information in a newly formed rural municipality.
- Who was involved: Former CAO Marjorie Turner; residents Mac Burns and Melissa Gillis; RCMP; Crown prosecutors.
- Where it happened: Sunbury‑York South (Nasonworth, Rusagonis, Waasis, Charters Settlement); trial in Fredericton provincial court.
- Current status: Criminal charges withdrawn by the Crown; no public explanation provided.
For residents and municipal stakeholders, the episode raises enduring questions about how public records requests are handled in small municipalities and how newly restructured local governments manage transparency and accountability. Further comment from the Crown, the RCMP or Sunbury‑York South officials had not been provided by court time.
Amélie Gagné reports from New Brunswick for WE NEWS.
