SASKATCHEWAN PART OF NATIONAL DISCUSSION ON MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIPS

Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson along with other provincial and territorial ministers responsible for local government concluded their annual meeting in Halifax today.

The meeting focused on interprovincial collaboration; strengthening municipal partnerships; infrastructure challenges; consultation between municipalities and First Nations and Métis; the municipal sector role and implications related to environmental change; and the vitality of urban, rural and northern communities.

"Saskatchewan's current economic momentum makes it essential that we work together with our municipal partners to ensure the province's prosperity benefits everyone," Hutchinson said. "Other jurisdictions are also focused on collaboration with their municipalities, so there was much we could learn from each other during this conference."

Minister Hutchinson played a leading role in discussions around strengthening relationships and increasing consultation between municipalities and First Nations and Métis. Provincial and territorial ministers discussed the importance of encouraging and supporting municipalities to focus on constructive, consultative and co-operative relationships with First Nations and Métis.

"In Saskatchewan we recently had a conference with our First Nations which focused on the duty to consult," Hutchinson said. "Saskatchewan has some experience in addressing the municipal role in duty to consult, and we were able to share our experiences with other jurisdictions."

Strengthening the rural municipal sector and adapting to environmental change was also a focus of the meeting. Ministers recognized that provinces and territories must work closely with the public, private and volunteer sectors in maintaining viable and healthy rural and remote communities, and that special attention to fully engaging the municipal sector and sharing leading information and best practices is key.

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For more information, contact:

Greg Urbanoski
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2155
Email: gurbanoski@gov.sk.ca