The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs:

Speaker, I stand today to highlight this year’s Professional Municipal Administrators Annual Convention and Trade Show that took place from April 9 to 11 in the fine District of Gander.

As a government, we greatly value our long-standing, positive working relationship with the Professional Municipal Administrators. I applaud all municipal administrators throughout the province for their continued dedication to providing important services to residents. With a focus on strengthening communities, municipal administrators are critical to setting the standard for exemplary municipal leadership.

This year’s event allowed for many municipal administrators to collaborate, network and enhance their skill sets. I would like to extend a hearty congratulations to those municipal administrators who received long-service awards for service spanning from 10 to 45 years.

It was also a time to reflect on colleagues lost this past year, including the Honourable Derrick Bragg, who was a former President of the Professional Municipal Administrators and a true community, municipal and provincial leader.

During the convention, I had the opportunity to announce that, in collaboration with Professional Municipal Administrators, a new award will be established celebrating the distinguished career of the late Minister Bragg and presented to recipients at the annual convention. The award will acknowledge municipal administrators who demonstrate many of the same outstanding leadership skills shared by Minister Bragg. Stay tuned for more details to come on this special award.

I would like to thank Brian Hudson, outgoing president of Professional Municipal Administrators, for his leadership during his tenure, and I wish Connie Reid all the best in her new role as president of the association.

I ask my honourable colleagues to join me in recognizing Professional Municipal Administrators and its members on yet another successful convention and trade show.

Thank you.