L-R: Helen Ward-Wakeline, Vice President, Cando; Brad Woodside, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities; Cyrille Simard, Mayor, City of Edmundston; Patricia Bernard, Chief, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation; and Bernard Valcourt, Minister, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and MP for Madawaska-Restigouche.
EDMUNDSTON, NB - The President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Brad Woodside, is taking part today in a historic Friendship Accord signing ceremony between the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation and the City of Edmundston.
The partnership is part of the First Nation - Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI), a joint initiative of FCM and Cando (the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) that enhances the capacity of First Nations and adjacent municipalities to engage in joint community economic development planning and projects.
"This Accord will no doubt have tangible economic benefits. The partnership will reduce duplication, increase investor confidence and promote a strategic use of local resources. It is a formidable trust-building instrument that will benefit citizens of both communities for many years to come," said Brad Woodside.
CEDI works with six community partnerships of First Nations and municipalities across Canada. The City of Edmundston and Madawaska Maliseet First Nation were selected from 280 candidates in the summer of 2013 following their joint expression of interest to participate in CEDI. Through CEDI the two communities will have access to the following supports: joint workshop facilitation, peer mentorship, a community capacity-building grant and study tours.