When the National Capital Commission’s board of directors meets next on April 28, the mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau will be there.
The federal minister responsible for the NCC, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, signed a statement Monday that will allow Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin to sit on the board as non-voting members.
The move is meant to foster greater co-operation between the NCC and the local municipal governments in areas such as urban planning, transportation, tourism and regional development.
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Mr. Watson said he is eager to begin working on the partnership between the city and the NCC.
“This co-operation is instrumental in the positive and continuous development of the nation’s capital,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Pedneaud-Jobin called it a “historic” moment for both cities.
“We are at the beginning of a beautiful partnership, of which our citizens will be the principal beneficiaries,” he said in a statement.
Ms. Joly said having the mayors on the NCC board is a sign the government is committed to “enhancing openness and transparency.”
The governance committee of the NCC board will report back in a few months on additional ways to promote such transparency, which may include the participation of other municipalities in the area. Ms. Joly also intends to ensure Indigenous people are included on the board, the NCC said in a statement.
