CanadaB次元官网网址檚 new federal government has a lot on its plate as it transitions its civil service from the previous administration.
One thing that looks positive from their initial weeks in office is the amount of communication that appears to be happening with groups outside the sphere of Ottawa.
This weekB次元官网网址檚 first ministers meeting is one example of expanded communication. ItB次元官网网址檚 the first time in seven years that B.C. Premier Christy Clark and the rest of the countryB次元官网网址檚 premiers have met for talks with the prime minister. Talking strategy for dealing with climate change B次元官网网址� an obvious discussion point with the United Nations Climate Change Conference getting underway next week in Paris B次元官网网址� and the impending resettling of Syrian refugees in Canada are the two main issues.
But the act of getting together to compare notes, listen to the regional challenges being faced by other areas of the country, and how they feel about specific issues is a good way to start the new governmentB次元官网网址檚 relationship with the provinces.
It has been said many times that information is power. Creating a space for provincial leaders B次元官网网址� the people heading up the jurisdictions responsible for the delivery of many government services B次元官网网址� to share what works and what doesnB次元官网网址檛 with their federal counterparts is critical to moving forward.
We donB次元官网网址檛 expect that everyone will agree on ways forward when it comes to the big issues like greenhouse gas reduction targets, environmental protection and refugee resettlement. But getting together to share ideas early on is a good start to ensure the best ideas come forward, now or in the future.
We hope Premier Clark and her crew leave the meetings with optimism and a sense that the Trudeau government will be a good partner and ally in developing future strategies.
After all, how the province and feds work together ultimately effects our cities and neighbourhoods. Often itB次元官网网址檚 in less visible ways, such as health care funding. But sometimes itB次元官网网址檚 in large ways, as on major initiatives like the McKenzie Interchange, the sewage treatment program and the Johnson Street Bridge.
