Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard will join her colleagues from across Canada for a meeting of Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services on Thursday, Sept. 11, to discuss common issues and areas for collaboration.

The agenda will focus on three shared issues: Aboriginal children in care, services for persons with disabilities, and how social services departments across Canada can better share information and best practices to improve services to their clients.

“I am looking forward to my first social services ministers conference and how the discussions can benefit Nova Scotians,” said Ms. Bernard. “For example, at the recent premiers meeting, Premier Stephen McNeil and his counterparts discussed the large and disproportionate number of Aboriginal children in care, and how they can work with their local Aboriginal communities to develop solutions to address the many complex social and economic factors that contribute to this situation.

“I look forward to now expanding this dialogue with my counterparts across the country.”     

Alberta will host the meeting. This is the first meeting of social services ministers since 2006.

Source: Release