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CITIZEN-FOCUSED COOPERATION, PROPOSES
THE HONOURABLE LUCIENNE ROBILLARD
Vancouver,
British Columbia, August 30, 2004 – During an address delivered at the annual conference
of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the Honourable Lucienne
Robillard, President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental
Affairs, stressed the need to adopt a new approach to intergovernmental
relations.
In
her speech, entitled “Towards an even better Canada: citizen-focused
cooperation”, the Minister reminded her audience that our
intergovernmental relations rest on the foundation of our human success: our
shared values and Canadian federalism. She also pointed out that our governments
must draw on past experiences – successes and failures alike – and that they
have to contend with a new environment, characterized in particular by a
better-informed population concentrated in urban areas, and by globalization.
The
Minister then expressed her belief that the new approach to intergovernmental
relations depends first and foremost on the willingness of all governments to
place citizens at the centre of their actions and efforts. “This is no time
for obstinate attitudes (...) or pointless quarrels,” she said, adding
that the upcoming First Ministers’ Meeting would be an opportunity for
governments to launch a new era of cooperation and to go beyond their own
interests to place the interests of all Canadians first.
Ms.
Robillard concluded by urging both levels of government to take advantage of
this First Ministers’ Meeting to engage in a constructive dialogue and put
forward solutions responding to the needs and aspirations of Canadians. “ We
must restore citizens’ trust in the governments of this country,” she
stated, adding that this meeting represents a crucial step in the process aimed
at regaining that trust, without which there can be no productive
intergovernmental relations.
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For information:
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Isabelle Mignault
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lucienne Robillard
President of the Privy Council and
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Tel.: (613) 943-1838
Fax: (613) 943-5553
E-mail: lrobillard@pco-bcp.gc.ca
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This document is available on the Intergovernmental Affairs Web site at the
following address: http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/aia/
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