Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Local Government

SAINT ANDREWS, New Brunswick, July 14, 2011 – Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government today reaffirmed their commitment to support strong and viable communities.

“Local government ministers believe collectively that we can better help our municipalities and communities remain sustainable in the long term if we learn from one another, work together and share information on new initiatives, including those that support municipal infrastructure,” said Bruce Fitch, New Brunswick’s Minister of Local Government.

Municipal infrastructure such as drinking water, wastewater, transportation and recreation is a priority for all local government ministers. Local infrastructure investment creates jobs, advances green energy efforts, addresses community priorities and stimulates private sector investment.

Provincial and territorial ministers represent the interests of all municipalities, including rural and remote communities across the country. They had an opportunity to discuss the importance of adequate, predictable, flexible and long-term funding to address municipal infrastructure needs with Denis Lebel, the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

The ministers also stressed the necessity for a continued collaboration between the Federal Government and the provinces and territories to ensure that federal initiatives respect provincial and territorial jurisdiction, priorities and needs.

The ministers heard from the New Brunswick Municipal Associations, as the three Associations made a joint presentation to the ministers during their annual meeting in Saint Andrews about the key issues and challenges facing municipalities.

Ministers also agreed on the importance of continued collective collaboration with provincial and territorial municipal associations on common interests as key to the development of innovative and new initiatives and approaches to supporting municipalities.

The 2012 annual meeting of Ministers Responsible for Local Government will be hosted by the government of Alberta.

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Contact Information

Ryan Donaghy, Director of Communications, New Brunswick Department of Local
Government, 506-471-5554.