The provinces and territories are always there when municipalities deal with the federal government. If you look at all of the different federal infrastructure programs, it's always a three-level agreement: federal, provincial-territorial, and municipal. Together, they work to ensure that the same Canadian, the same voter, is represented or serviced by all three orders of government together, where it's appropriate and where all three can agree.
On March 10th, 2009. See this statement in context.