Vision & Values

Vision

Together, we are leaders in building a strong, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable community, region, and territory for all with an unrivalled quality of life.

Guiding Principles:

Reconciliation: To support the framework for reconciliation set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Diversity: To respect the diversity of cultures, histories, and traditions among the Parties and respect that each may have unique political and policy priorities.
Common Concern: To work together to make progress and achieve outcomes on matters that we have agreed are shared priorities.
Equity: To ensure that there is equitable sharing of the benefits and the responsibilities associated with addressing issues of common concern.
Jurisdictional Collaboration: To respect each other’s autonomous jurisdictions and right to make decisions while agreeing that constructive collaboration based on mutual respect creates opportunities to deepen understanding and maximize benefits for the people that the Parties serve.
Government-to-Government: To work together to achieve respectful, strong, and meaningful relationships among our governments to advance issues of common concern.
Other Agreements: To recognize that bilateral arrangements and agreements may also be appropriate to facilitate further cooperation between the governments.

Core Values:

Community Wellbeing and Safety: Enhancing social, economic, and health outcomes while ensuring equitable access to services, resources, and opportunities for all.
Cultural Preservation and Celebration: Honouring and celebrating our rich heritages and traditions, including through cultural exchange initiatives, to protect and conserve our cultural assets, traditions, and historic sites.
Environmental Stewardship: Protecting and sustainably managing our shared natural resources, lands, and waters, including biodiversity hotspots, recognizing their shared significance and importance for future generations.
Community Empowerment: Empowering local communities through capacity-building programs that enable them to actively participate in and benefit from sustainable development.
Sustainable Development: Promoting development using a holistic approach that balances environmental conservation, social and cultural integrity, and economic prosperity.
Collaborative Decision-making: Ensuring dialogue and collaboration in decision-making among the Parties on matters of common concern.
Partnerships: Building good working relationships, collaboration, and dialogue with partners across the region, including community members, other governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and others.
Raise Awareness: Raising awareness about and support for this Memorandum of Agreement and the work of the Parties.