Meeting of Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Local Government

NEWS RELEASE – NEWS RELEASE – Provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government reaffirm their commitment to address municipal infrastructure challenges.

PRESS  RELEASE – Provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government  reaffirm their commitment to address municipal infrastructure challenges.

Québec  City, Québec – July 7, 2016 – Provincial and  Territorial (P/T) Ministers Responsible for Local Government concluded their  annual meeting  in Québec City today to discuss  the priorities of communities including infrastructure funding.

 Local Government ministers met with the  Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities to  discuss the importance of sustainable  infrastructure funding. P/T ministers were  pleased to hear Minister Amarjeet Sohi's commitment to have infrastructure  funding flow in a timely manner.

"Provincial and territorial governments are  supporting municipalities in the delivery of quality infrastructure like roads,  bridges, transit, water and wastewater facilities and recognize the importance of  the Government of Canada's reinvestment in municipal infrastructure. As a  group, we raised issues related to federal programs and we were happy to  witness the federal minister's responsiveness and openness for flexibility in  program design. This new era of collaboration between federal, provincial and  territorial governments will help meet the infrastructure needs of our  communities," said Martin Coiteux, Quebec's Minister of Municipal Affairs and  Land Occupancy, chair of the Ministers Responsible for Local Government.

It was the first time that P/T Ministers Responsible  for Local Government met as a group with Minister Sohi since his election. The  discussion showed that the federal, provincial and territorial governments agree  on the importance of flexible infrastructure funding that will meet the needs  of Canadian communities. While saluting the Federal Government's commitment to  increase infrastructure funding, P/T ministers also took the opportunity to provide  recommendations on existing and future programs.

 In addition to infrastructure, P/T  ministers shared information on recent policies and legislative changes and  discussed current issues in local finances and municipal governance. They also  had the opportunity to hear presentations from the Presidents of the Canadian  Institute of Planners and the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec about the  importance of planning in building strong and healthy communities.

 "These meetings provide an opportunity to  hear from everyone, so we can improve services to our fellow citizens," said Martin  Coiteux.

Finally, ministers identified common  priorities for the year ahead. Ministers will continue their collaboration when  they meet again in June 2017 in Regina, Saskatchewan.