The town of New Canada operates under the selectman-manager form of town government. These selectmen are elected at the town meeting for a three-year term. The selectmen appoint the town manager, who serves as the tax collector. Also elected at the town meeting are the town clerk, town treasurer, road commissioner and constable. New Canada had the plantation form of local government until 1976. As much, it came under the jurisdiction of the State Land Use Regulation Commission for land use control. It remained under LURC control until it adopted a comprehensive plan and ordinances "not less protective of the existing natural, recreational or historic resources than those adopted by the commission".

As noted earlier the town operates under the selectmen-manager form of town government. Earlier, as a plantation, New Canada was one of the three in Maine operating under the assessor-manager form of plantation government. The manager plan was adopted in 1945. New Canada's tax base is limited to its forest land, the valuation of which is controlled by the Tree Growth Tax Law, its agricultural land and associated buildings, its residences and taxable public utility investment. The 1979 state valuation of New Canada was $3,100,000.00. The town had tax maps prepared in 1976 and a professional evaluation in 1977. There are 200 parcels of land ownership.

The planning board foresees no important increase in the tax base from industrial, commercial or recreational development. This prediction requires planning for only a limited rural type growth in the next 25 years which will require for additional municipal facilities and services. No doubt most new activities will be provided by the towns in the region acting jointly as has been the case during the past years.

Registered Voter Statistics: New Canada 

 November 1996 Election Results: New Canada 

 Information herein obtained upon request from the New Canada Town Office: 834-6673 

Question 1: Do you want Maine to require candidates and elected officials to show support for  Congressional term limits or have their refusal printed on the ballot?	Yes 70	No 44
Question 2:  2A: Citizen Initiative: Do you want Maine to ban clearcutting and set other new logging standards? 2B: Competing Measure: Do you want the Compact for Maine's Forests to become law to promote sustainable forest management practices throughout the State? 2C: Against A & B: Against both the Citizen Initiative and the Competing Measures.	2A 23	2B 63	2C 28
Question 3: Citizen Initiative- Do you want Maine to adopt new campaign finance laws and give  public funding to candidates for state office who agree to spending limits?	Yes 56	No 58
Question 4: Bond Issue- Do you favor a $3,000,000.00 Estimated Interest at 4.75% over 5  years is $427,500.00.	Yes 48	No 67
Question 5: Bond Issue- Do you favor a $16,500,000 bond issue for the follow purposes:  (1) $2,500,000 to investigate, abate and clean up threats to public health and the environment from  hazardous substance discharges; (2) $5,000,000 to protect the public health, safety and the environment by providing funds for the cleanup of tire stockpiles; and (3) $9,000,000 to protect the State's drinking water resources by granting funds to cities and towns for the closure and  cleanup of their solid waste landfills?	Yes 64	No 51
Question 6: Bond Issue- Do you favor a $11,000,000 bond issue to encourage job growth and  economic vitality by providing access to capitol for agricultural enterprise and small businesses with  a significant potential for growth and job creation?	Yes 94	No 19
Question 7: Bond Issue- Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue for the following purposes:  (1) $8,000,000 to construct water pollution control facilities, providing the state match for  $10,000,000 in federal funds; and (2) $2,000,000 to address environmental health deficiencies in  drinking water supplies?	Yes 68	No 48
Question 8: Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that a direct initiative  petition be submitted to local officials earlier than is presently required in order to allow 5 working days rather than 2 working days for local officials to certify the petition.?	Yes 69	No 37