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NLIS 6
July 6, 2001
(Executive Council)

 

Conference of Atlantic Premiers Meeting - July 5, 2001

The Council of Atlantic Premiers met yesterday in Charlottetown, PEI, to discuss the agenda for the Annual Premiers' Conference (APC) scheduled for August 1 - 3, 2001, in Victoria B.C.

"We are cooperating on practical approaches to strengthening the economic competitiveness and improving the quality of service delivery in this region," said Premier Roger Grimes, " We will be delivering a clear message at the Annual Premiers' Conference about our priorities and our views on how provinces and territories can cooperate effectively with one another and the federal government."

Atlantic Premiers expect that the APC will once again discuss Equalization and the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST). "Redressing the imbalances that exist in the current Equalization formula will be a priority for me and my Atlantic colleagues at APC," noted Premier Grimes. Past conferences have concentrated on the CHST, through which the federal government transfers funding to provinces for health, social and education programming. Atlantic Premiers are seeking improvements to Equalization including removing the ceiling so that Equalization can grow at the Gross Domestic Product rate, establishing a 10 province rather than a five province standard, and a broader base of revenue on which the Equalization formula is calculated. "Changes to the CHST have not been very beneficial for Newfoundland and Labrador or the Atlantic region," the premier said. "The federal government must move to improve Equalization so that it meets its constitutionally defined objective of allowing provinces to provide reasonably comparable services at reasonably comparable levels of taxation."

Premier Grimes will be leading a discussion on skills development and post-secondary education at the APC and Atlantic Premiers have agreed that this issue should be a national priority. "The growing shortage of workers with essential skills and the challenges facing our post-secondary institutions are fundamental economic issues, not only in the Atlantic Provinces, but in all of Canada," said Premier Grimes. "We need to ensure that learning is accessible and affordable for young people, for those in the work force that need to upgrade or re-train, and for those who need training to get back into the workforce." 

Atlantic premiers noted that a skilled, well-educated workforce is fundamental to economic success but that global competition and changing skill requirements are creating difficulties. For example, despite unacceptably high unemployment levels in Canada, over 83 per cent of firms are experiencing skilled labour shortages.

"I am also very concerned about student debt," said Premier Grimes. "This is an issue we will take to the APC with the objective of challenging ourselves and the federal government to find better solutions."

Health care will also generate an important discussion at the Annual Premiers Conference. Atlantic premiers will be calling on their colleagues to support an accelerated national strategy on and human resource issues in health. "We have renewed our call for a greater federal effort in ensuring sustainable, quality health care for all Canadians," said Premier Grimes, "and we will be bringing this message to our colleagues in Victoria as well."

Atlantic premiers also discussed the need to build on the social and economic benefits from energy developments as a key elements in revitalizing the Atlantic Region's economy. "It is essential that the federal government consult with provinces on the development of any Canadian energy strategy," said Premier Grimes, "and we are encouraged that the recent meeting of energy ministers established a senior federal-provincial-territorial officials energy markets committee. We also want to make it very clear that Canadian domestic energy needs must be given as much or greater priority than market development.

Media contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-3960.

2001 07 06                                                        2:30 p.m.


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