Meeting of Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Local Government

WHITEHORSE, YUKON – July 11, 2013 – Provincial and  Territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government reaffirmed the  importance of long-term federal funding for infrastructure, while renewing  their commitment to cooperate in support of strong and viable municipalities  and communities at a meeting in Whitehorse.  

Local government Ministers used this meeting to  help share information relating to municipalities and communities, promote  sustainability, and work collaboratively, in particular on new initiatives that  support infrastructure across Canada.

“As Ministers Responsible for Local Government in  Canada, we recognize recent federal budget announcements regarding long-term  infrastructure funding”, noted Elaine Taylor, Yukon’s Minister of Community  Services and the 2013 chair of the provincial-territorial Ministers Responsible  for Local Government.  “The key now is to  ensure that funding flows to our provinces and territories in a timely,  efficient and flexible manner to support the needs of our citizens.”

Discussions emphasized the importance of moving  forward immediately in a meaningful dialogue with the federal government about  infrastructure to avoid impacting the 2014 construction season. Infrastructure  is a key building block for growth, contributing to regional economies and job  creation. Ministers were disappointed that federal representatives were unable  to participate in the meeting and to provide concrete details about the new  Building Canada Plan. Ministers will seek a meeting with the federal minister  responsible as soon as possible.

During their meetings, Ministers heard  presentations on diverse subjects including municipal capacity, local  government financial arrangements and municipal-First Nation relationships.  Ministers also heard from community leaders on the importance of partnership  among governments when creating innovative public infrastructure, and received  a presentation from the Yukon Research Centre on cold climate innovations. They  shared information on alternative approaches to these and other issues,  learning from each jurisdiction’s experiences and contemplating new approaches  to support strong local government in Canada.

The next annual meeting of Ministers Responsible  for Local Government will be held in July, 2014 in Prince Edward Island.

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Contact Information
Ben Yu Schott, Director  of Communications
Department of Community  Service, Government of Yukon
867-456-6580