Northern Leaders Upset By Cabinet’s No-Show
Monday, December 07, 2009 at 12:21
A northern Saskatchewan leader says she’s disappointed no one from the provincial government is attending this week’s annual New North gathering in Prince Albert.
Mayor Georgina Jolibois of La Loche says invitations were sent to various government ministries some time ago, but no one bothered to come.
“That is a bit disappointing, since we made efforts to invite them to attend here and be a part of this discussion. So the mayors are quite disappointed that they’re not here,” Jolibois says.
New North chair Bobby Woods says he received notice last week that no one would be coming.
Woods agrees the government’s absence is unfortunate, but notes mayors are taking the opportunity to welcome new members into the organization.
“We have some new elected (municipal) officials that are not too sure what New North is, and (we’re) just giving them a little bit of an upper hand in regards to who we are, and getting their ideas as well about what they feel we should be doing and where we should be doing,” he says.
Woods says leaders will also be brainstorming how they can work more closely with First Nations and the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan on issues of mutual concern.
The meeting runs until tomorrow at the P.A. Travelodge.