News Release
Atlantic Mayors to Consider Common Front
(Wednesday, November 21/2001)-- Municipal leaders from throughout the Atlantic region will gather in Halifax later this week to consider establishing an Atlantic Mayors Congress as a united front on common issues, Mayor Peter Kelly announced today.
Mayor Kelly said Mayors from 17 communities throughout the Atlantic Provinces accepted his invitation to meet in Halifax, beginning Thursday evening, to discuss mutual concerns and to consider the potential benefits of establishing a formal organization.
The Mayor said" We are just at the 'talking' stage. The meetings in Halifax are simply formal gatherings, for informal discussions. We want to determine how much we have in common regarding municipal issues, and whether there is merit in forming a united front for greater clout in our dealings with Ottawa and our respective provincial governments. Also, we want to examine the potential for joint co-operation among our municipalities regarding economic opportunities"
ACOA Minister Robert Thibault and Industry Minister Brian Tobin are scheduled to address the group at private sessions during the two-day talks. The Mayors and their officials will also be given a presentation by the Canadian Advanced Technology Association, which will be open to the media.
(Note: Because this is largely an exploratory meeting among the Mayors, the sessions will not be open to the media. However, Mayor Kelly and other officials will be available for formal briefings and media interviews at the noon breaks and following the daily sessions.)
(agenda and list of delegates attached)
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
John O'Brien
HRM Corporate Communications Officer
(902) 490-6531
