New Training Programs Unveiled for Municipal Leaders and Employees
11/7/2005 10:54:16 AM
ST. JOHN’S - Elected councillors and municipal staff in the towns and communities of Newfoundland and Labrador are facing larger and more complex issues than ever before. It has never been more important than now to have a province-wide, standardized level of training for municipal councillors and staff to help them do their jobs properly.
It has been a long-term goal of the members of the Municipal Training and Development Corporation (MTDC) to create a leadership framework for councillors and municipal staff. That goal is being realized today as MTDC and College of the North Atlantic (CNA) unveil a series of new training programs in local government management, according to MTDC President Gerard Lewis.
“This program represents the culmination of MTDC’s vision to provide access to quality training and education required by Councillors and Municipal Staff to supply viable and effective municipal services in today’s ever changing and challenging environment,” he says.
Three Continuing Education Studies Certificate programs in Local Government Management are designed for elected councillors and municipal staff to improve their understanding of their roles and expectations, enhance the professionalism and productivity of their relationships with other councillors, administrators, staff, taxpayers, the media and other key stakeholders, and measurably and sustainability increase their job performance and results.
“The new certificate programs in Local Government Management for elected councillors and municipal staff offered through CNA and MTDC is indeed a great step for municipal government,” says Rodney Cumby, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators.
“Administrators understand the importance and need for basic and advanced education for both councillors and administrators. We are looking forward to serving on the Curriculum Advisory Committee and moving this project forward.”
“Behind every strong municipality is a strong administrator supporting well informed councillors,” adds NLFM President Herbert Brett. “With educational opportunities specific to these positions to become available at various locations throughout the province, we look forward to even stronger municipal governments in the future. I encourage anyone involved in municipal government to avail of this new opportunity.”
Corinne Dunne, College of North Atlantic’s vice-president of Development and College Advancement, says the new certificate programs perfectly reflect the role the province’s public college needs to play in enhancing social and economic development.
“We see the development and delivery of these programs, our strategic locations around the province, and our relationship with the MTDC, as a natural partnership that will lead to further growth and development of the regions we serve,” says Dunne. “Today’s announcement represents a solid foundation for further innovations and new programs essential to the prosperity of municipalities.”
Further details on these training programs will be made available to municipalities in the near future.
The Municipal Training and Development Corporation is a partnership between the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Municipal Administrators, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, and the Combined Councils of Labrador. Through the financial support of the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, MTDC assists elected municipal officials, employees and volunteers to gain access to training and professional development opportunities that may not otherwise be attainable because of financial constraints.
College of the North Atlantic is Newfoundland and Labrador’s public college. It offers more than 90 diploma programs and over 200 courses at its 17 campus locations and via distance and through its international campus in Qatar. The college also designs and delivers customized training programs to businesses and government organizations to help them address their training and development needs, while facilitating access for private, public and community organizations to a growing network of applied research and innovation capabilities.
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For more information contact:
Krista Planke
Administrative Assistant
Municipal Training and Development Corporation
Tel: (709) 753-1867
E-Mail: mtdc@mtdc-nl.ca
www.mtdc-nl.ca
Or
Stephen Lee
Manager of Marketing and Communications
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 227-6283
E-Mail: stephen.lee@cna.nl.ca
www.cna.nl.ca