June 9, 1998
(Executive Council)

The following is being distributed at the request of The Conference of Atlantic Premiers:

Framework agreement on Canada's Social Union

At their conference June 8 in Fredericton, Atlantic premiers reviewed the progress by federal, provincial and territorial governments in developing a framework agreement on Canada's Social Union. Last December, the Prime Minister and all premiers, except for the Premier of Quebec, mandated ministers under the Council on Social Policy Renewal to develop a framework to establish a new partnership approach to planning and managing the social union.

Objectives for the framework agreement include a set of principles for social policy, collaborative approaches to the use of the federal spending power, clarifying roles and responsibilities between governments, and identifying ground rules for intergovernmental cooperation, including mechanisms to resolve disputes between governments.

"Social programs are part of the glue that binds the country," conference chair New Brunswick Premier Camille Theriault said. "Canadians need to be reassured that their governments are committed to work together to protect and improve these programs. This is the main purpose of the framework agreement."

All premiers acknowledged that while provincial and territorial governments are responsible for delivering core social programs, such as health and education, the federal government has a significant role in the social union. "A strong federal role in the social union is essential to maintaining a common and unifying dimension to social programs across the country," said Newfoundland Premier Brian Tobin. "Any new partnership approach between governments must ensure that the federal government is able to respond to the different needs and circumstances of each province."

Premiers noted that major cuts to transfers from the federal government to provinces to help fund social programs have had a greater impact in Atlantic Canada than elsewhere in the country. Nova Scotia Premier Russell MacLellan stressed on behalf of the premiers that "Atlantic Canada does not have the ability to respond to cuts in transfers for social programs like they do in other provinces. If Atlantic Canadians are to have access to quality social programs that are reasonably comparable to those across the country, the federal government must commit to adequate, stable and predictable funding for these programs."

Premiers called on the federal government to restore funding for core social programs, primarily health care, before considering new social programs.

Canadians have said they want governments to work together to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federation, especially in the delivery of social programs. By clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each order of government in the social union, governments can avoid overlap, eliminate duplication and minimize areas of joint responsibility. "Any new partnership approach between the two orders of government must be based on trust, openness and mutual respect for each other's constitutional jurisdiction. Unilateral actions by one order of government that negatively impact on the other need to be replaced by cooperative approaches. There is only one taxpayer," said Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns.

Contact: Kim Thomson, information officer, Conference of Atlantic Premiers, P.O. Box 2044, Halifax, NS, B3J 2Z1, (902) 424-8975.

1998 06 09              12:10 p.m.