NLIS 7
October 12, 2005
(Executive Council)
Mill River, Prince Edward Island � Premier Pat
Binns chaired a meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers attended by Premiers
Bernard Lord, Danny Williams and John Hamm. This was the twelfth meeting of the
Council since it was established in May 2000.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss skills training and post-secondary
education and prepare for the upcoming First Ministers� Meeting on Aboriginal
Issues.
Skills Training and Post-Secondary Education
The August meeting of Council of the Federation spelled out a clear commitment
by provincial and territorial leaders to increase investment in human capital
through focused investment in post-secondary education and skills training. The
Atlantic premiers support a federal-provincial funding strategy that will allow
governments to provide similar training opportunities in all provinces, while
providing the flexibility for provinces to address individual priorities.
The Atlantic premiers were briefed by their Education Ministers on the Council
of the Federation meeting of Education, Labour Market and Finance Ministers that
took place recently in Quebec City. The Atlantic premiers recognize the
importance of entering a new partnership with the federal government that will
position Canada as a global leader in education and training while also closing
the existing gap between Atlantic Canada and other provinces in infrastructure
and research and development funding. They noted that the Prime Minister,
however, has yet to act on his June 2004 commitment to increase post-secondary
transfers directly to provinces and territories.
First Ministers� Meeting
The Atlantic premiers discussed the upcoming meeting with their provincial
counterparts, the Prime Minister, and Aboriginal leaders. This meeting will
consider new initiatives for Canada�s Aboriginal peoples in key areas of health,
education, housing, economic development and relationships.
The premiers agreed that this First Ministers� Meeting represents an important
opportunity to begin closing the gap that exists between Aboriginal peoples and
the rest of the Canadian population in these areas. Premiers will continue to
urge the federal government to ensure that it meets its constitutional and
fiduciary obligations to Aboriginal peoples. They emphasized that any
federal-provincial collaboration must include adequate and long-term sustainable
funding.
Premiers stressed the importance of ensuring that all actions in response to
these issues reflect local circumstances and needs and that the approaches used
to collaborate with the Aboriginal communities should build upon existing
agreements and multilateral consultation processes.
Premiers agreed that they will continue to consult with Aboriginal groups in
their provinces in preparation for the First Ministers� meeting. They also noted
serious concern with Aboriginal health outcomes and, in particular, with the
high incidence of suicide in Aboriginal communities.
National Transportation Strategy
Atlantic premiers support the Council of the Federation initiative to develop a
National Transportation Strategy. In doing so, premiers encouraged their
transportation ministers to complete the development of a regional multi-modal
transportation strategy.
Fiscal Imbalance
Atlantic premiers reaffirmed that while supporting the work of the Council of
the Federation Advisory Panel on Fiscal Imbalance, established last spring, they
continue to support a return to the ten-province standard, comprehensive revenue
coverage including all natural resources within the Equalization formula,
retention of the representative tax system and elimination of artificial
ceilings on the program. Premiers agreed to continue advocating this position to
the federal government.
Immigration
Atlantic premiers discussed the importance of immigration to the region.
Premiers are concerned that proposed changes to the regulations under the
Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act will have an adverse effect on the region�s
ability to attract and retain business immigrants. The premiers call on the
federal government to extend the current program for 5 to 7 years.
Gas and Oil Prices/Home Heating Support
Atlantic premiers are concerned about the impact of the rising prices of gas and
home-heating fuel on their citizens. They discussed provincial initiatives to
address this situation and endorsed the work of the Atlantic Energy Ministers�
Forum in developing a regional energy efficiency marketing and awareness
campaign to educate Atlantic Canadians on actions individuals can take to lower
energy consumption and reduce costs. They will continue to look for
opportunities for further collaboration.
Atlantic premiers acknowledge the recent initiatives introduced by the federal
government and stressed that the federal government should continue to play a
lead role in addressing this national issue.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Atlantic premiers again discussed the proposed Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative, an American regulatory proposal that would require all US citizens
and foreign nationals to present a passport or other secure document when
entering the United States. They are concerned that the implementation of such a
regulation will have significant negative impacts on Canadian and American
citizens from our border communities as well as tourism and commercial trade.
Atlantic premiers will write to the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice
and Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff to stress how crucial it is
that our borders allow for day-to-day life to continue while, at the same time,
fully address our heightened security concerns.
Atlantic Prosperity Partnership Framework
The Atlantic provinces continue to engage the federal government for a renewed
partnership for Atlantic regional economic development. Economic development
activities of the federal and provincial governments should be complementary,
coordinated to maximize the impact of resources, and delivered through
cost-shared bilateral agreements. They noted that federal and provincial
officials have been meeting to discuss an Atlantic Prosperity Partnership
Framework.
Premiers directed their ministers responsible for economic development to meet
with the Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and to finalize
the proposed Atlantic Prosperity Partnership Framework for ratification by the
Atlantic premiers and the Prime Minister. The premiers reiterated their
intention to meet with Prime Minister Martin on this issue.
Building on Progress: Atlantic Action Plan 2005-08
The Atlantic premiers released their Atlantic action plan, Building on Progress,
in June 2005. The plan outlines how the provinces are working together to
enhance the provision of quality and efficient public services and foster a more
competitive regional economy.
Premiers noted collaborative initiatives in the areas of environment, education
and training and procurement. They announced that the Atlantic provinces will
undertake the Atlantic Provinces Driver�s Licence and ID Card Project, which
will provide enhanced and up-to-date security features for driver�s
license/identification cards (DL/ID) while achieving significant economic
savings through the joint procurement process. This will allow each province to
use the same security features while retaining the unique card characteristics
of their jurisdiction.
World Junior Championships in Athletics
Atlantic premiers expressed their support for the City of Moncton�s bid to host
the Twelfth World Junior Championships in Athletics in 2008. They noted that
Athletics Canada has also endorsed the bid in obtaining this important
international sporting event.
Commonwealth Games
Atlantic premiers also expressed their support for Halifax�s 2014 Commonwealth
Games bid. They noted that the development of sport and youth activity through
such an event will have a beneficial impact throughout the region.
Shrimp Tariff
Atlantic premiers fully support the efforts of the Atlantic provinces, the
shrimp industry and the federal government in their efforts to address the
excessive 20 per cent tariff on Canadian shrimp entering the European Union.
They are encouraged that a working group of representatives from the federal
government, provinces and industry have a firm mandate and timelines to make
recommendations on how to overcome this significant impediment to the Canadian
shrimp industry.
Promoting Atlantic Canada
Building on the success of a communications mission to Toronto last year, the
Council agreed that the Atlantic premiers will organize a further mission to
Calgary on November 23. The premiers plan to meet with business leaders and the
media to communicate the message that Atlantic Canada is a competitive region
for new investment.
Premier Hamm�s Retirement
Premiers Binns, Lord and Williams used the occasion of this meeting to
personally acknowledge the announcement of Premier Hamm�s retirement as leader
of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative party. Premier Hamm�s colleagues
thanked him for his contribution to his province for the past 12 years and
praised him for his commitment to regional cooperation as an original signatory
to the 2000 agreement establishing the Council of Atlantic Premiers. Premiers
Binns, Lord, and Williams noted that Premier Hamm always provided an informed
and insightful perspective to discussions at the regional and national level and
congratulated him on his legacy of achievement during his six years as premier
of Nova Scotia.
Media contact:
Patrick Dorsey, Prince Edward Island (902)
368-4400
Jim Quick, New Brunswick (506) 453-2144
Elizabeth Matthews, Newfoundland & Labrador (709) 729-3960
Hugh Fraser, Nova Scotia (902) 424-6600
2005 10 12
3:05 p.m. |