City mayors ready to work with new cabinet representatives

The mayors of Charlottetown and Summersideare looking forward to working together with their new representatives in cabinet.

P.E.I. went from having six cabinet ministers representing Charlottetown and Summerside, to none.

Because of that void, Premier Dennis King appointed two of his new ministers to represent those cities in cabinet during Thursday's swearing-in ceremony in Georgetown.

King said each representative will work directly with city mayors, councils and other MLAs to ensure their issues and concerns have a voice in the legislature.

Health and Wellness MinisterJames Alyward, MLA for Stratford-Keppoch,will also represent the greater Charlottetown area in cabinet.

Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture MinisterMatthew MacKay,from Kensington-Malpeque,will alsobe responsible for the greater Summerside area.

'Everybody working together'

CharlottetownMayorPhilip Brown saidwhile city council will have to adapt to the change he thinks this is a positive thing. He said having one direct point of contact with cabinet may lead to better relations between the two levels of government and make it easier to get things done.

"Look, in politics, it's a moving target," Brown said. "When the landscape changes as it did in this last election, you have to take a step back and ask yourself as [an] elected official at [the] municipal level'How do I work with this new government?'And I think that's the attitude we have to go forward with."

Brown said theprioritiesfor Charlottetown haven'tchanged and he looks forward to working with all of the members of the new government.

SummersideMayor Basil Stewartsaid he will be reaching out to the different MLAs, including MacKay, to make sure the city'sissues areheard at the cabinet table. He said he's known MacKay for a long time and trusts him torepresent the city well.

"I'm a firm believer of everybody working together and being at the tableto discuss things andthe left hand knows what the right is doing," Stewart said.

"So we look forward to everybody getting together and working for the betterment of our area."

MacKay said that he has already met with Stewart and some of the councillors and looks forward to other collaborations in the area.

"I've already reached out to a couple of the MLAsinthe Summerside areaas early as last night," said MacKay.

"We plan on meeting inthe very near future to listen to some of the issues and concerns that they've heard at the doors and I'll certainly meet with them and the mayor andtown councillors as much as they need me to be there."

Both ministers will be taking on the role on top of their department portfolios, which they say won't be a problem. Aylward said speaking with people and understanding their concerns is the reason he ran for public office, something he believes will serve him will in his new position.

"I think that's a lot of what the job will entail, is actually listening to people and bringing their concerns forward to the cabinet table or as the minister responsible for these districts, working with the opposition members as well to come to solutions," Aylward said.

"I'm looking forward to also attending some of the town councilevents and briefings in particular Charlottetown and Cornwall.I already do that pretty good with Stratford butI think it's a wonderful opportunity so that wecan all work together for the greater good of thepeople who we represent."

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