Lucienne Robillard, the federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, says she had a 'very interesting day' meeting with the various levels of government present in the Yukon on Wednesday.

This was Robillard's first visit to the Yukon in her capacity as intergovernmental affairs minister.

'One of my important roles is to really maintain the dialogue with the different orders of government,' she told the Star. 'We have maintained that partnership with the different orders of government to deliver services to citizens.'

Robillard spent Wednesday in meetings with Premier Dennis Fentie, the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) and the Association franco-yukonnaise.

'I didn't come to Yukon because there was a specific issue or specific problem in the relationship between Canada and Yukon, but only to maintain that dialogue,' she said.

In a country of Canada's geographic size and regions, she said, it's important to ensure there is an understanding of the needs and concerns of the various levels of government to maintain a proper level of services to Canadian citizens.

Robillard talked to Fentie about the upcoming first ministers' meeting in November, which will focus on aboriginal issues in Canada. She also discussed economic development and the Northern Strategy with the premier.

Robillard said one of the more interesting meetings of the day was with the CYFN.

'It was really important to me to meet with the first nations because I think in Yukon you are very unique in that sense in the governing structure you having here when I'm looking at the self-government you're having for first nations,' she said. 'I think you're the only one in the country to be really at that stage.'

Robillard said she wanted to get a better understanding of how first nations with self-governance view their relationship with the government of Canada and the YTG.

One of the messages brought to the minister was that first nations governments sometimes encounter challenges when dealing with federal departments that do not seem to understand or deal with them as self-governing bodies.

Federal departments sometimes have difficulty understanding their status, said Robillard.

'I think that was an important message to deliver to me.'

One of the easiest meetings of the day was with the AYC, she said, because the municipalities seemed quite happy with the federal government's New Deal for Cities and cities' share of the federal gasoline tax revenue.

Her final stop of the day was with the Association franco-yukonnaise.

'I consider it my duty to meet with the francophone when I'm coming to a territory or a province,' she said. 'I have to tell you, you have a very vibrant francophone community in Yukon.'

She discussed with the association challenges that are faced in the Yukon by its francophone population and what role the federal government could play in the future.

'It's always difficult to live in a community when you're a minority,' she added.

Robillard spent the evening as a guest at Yukon MP Larry Bagnell's annual open house at Rotary Peace Park.

Robillard is now off to attend Tlicho celebrations in Rae, N.W.T.

Her visit to Whitehorse was part of a series of ministerial trips to the North which are occurring throughout the summer months.

Environment Minister Stephane Dion and Transport Minister Jean Lapierre have also made recent trips to the territories.

Treasury Board Minister Reg Alcock will visit the N.W.T. later in the month.

Scott Brison, Minister for the Department of Public Works and Belinda Stronach, the new Minister of Human Resources, were also supposed to come north during the summer, but their visits have been postponed due to scheduling conflicts.