Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Housing

FREDERICTON, September 18, 2000 - Provincial and territorial Housing Ministers met today in Fredericton to share their experiences and examine and identify solutions to major housing issues. The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Percy Mockler, New Brunswick's Minister for Family and Community Services and addressed various issues including access to affordable housing, housing in rural and remote areas and the needs of the homeless.

Ministers directed senior officials to develop a strategic framework for joint action to address the housing and related community development needs of rural and remote communities.

The Housing Ministers also approved the objectives, structure and guiding principles of the provincial/territorial forum on housing established last year.

"A formal and well-defined operating framework will allow the Forum to be fully productive, which is in our collective interest,"said Mr. Mockler.

This forum gives provinces and territories an opportunity to discuss shared priorities, coordinate their efforts and strengthen the projects currently underway in their respective jurisdictions.

Provincial and territorial Ministers look forward to discussing these issues with the federal government tomorrow. The recognition of regional differences will be central to these discussions. Ministers also look forward to discussing their concerns with the design and implementation of the December 1999 federal homelessness initiative.

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