Executive Council
December 6, 2006
Premier Danny Williams chaired a meeting in St. John�s
of the Council of Atlantic Premiers (CAP) attended by premiers Shawn
Graham, Rodney MacDonald and Pat Binns. This was the 13th
meeting of the council since it was established in May 2000 and the
first meeting for premiers Graham and MacDonald.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss immigration,
energy, harmonization of rules and regulations for small- to medium-size
enterprises, and a strategy to engage the federal government in a
partnership for Atlantic regional economic development.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence
Against Women and 89th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion
Premiers began their meeting with a moment of silence recognizing the 17th
anniversary of the Montreal massacre and the 89th anniversary
of the Halifax explosion.
Atlantic Gateway
Premiers welcomed the recent federal announcement of funding for
gateways to Canada. Premiers directed the development of a joint
approach to a broadly-based Atlantic Gateway Strategy to take advantage
of this opportunity to benefit each of the four provinces and Canada as
a whole.
Fiscal Imbalance
Premiers discussed the federal government�s approach to economic and
fiscal policy, including the status of the federal government�s
commitment to resolve fiscal imbalance. Premiers encouraged the federal
government to table proposals on all aspects of fiscal imbalance as soon
as possible to provide provinces with ample opportunity to respond and
prepare their budgets. As a first step, premiers called on the federal
government to address Equalization and the Canada Social Transfer.
Premiers believe that Equalization should be returned to a
formula-driven program that reflects the constitutional principle upon
which it is based. Premiers also noted that the federal government has
committed to ensuring that no province is adversely affected by changes
to Equalization. Premiers support the restoration of the Canada Social
Transfer (CST) to 1994-95 levels plus an appropriate escalator to ensure
base cash funding grows annually, in support of post-secondary education
and other social programs.
Immigration
Immigration is increasingly important to the economic, social and
cultural development of the region as we face an aging population,
population decline and emerging skills shortages; however, last year the
Atlantic provinces representing 7.2 per cent of Canada�s population,
attracted only 1.4 per cent of Canada�s new immigrants. Atlantic
premiers note federal settlement funding, used to help integrate and
retain immigrants in their new Atlantic communities, has not kept pace
with other regions in Canada when considered on a per-immigrant basis.
Premiers direct their ministers responsible for immigration to work with
the federal government on an Atlantic immigration framework and ensure
that our immigrants have access to the same level of services as
immigrants in other regions of Canada.
Energy
Premiers agreed to pursue the development of an Atlantic energy
framework to position the region as a leader in energy conservation and
generation. Premiers directed their energy ministers to develop an
inventory of potential collaboration projects and identify high-level
topics of interest for regional collaboration. The framework would build
upon the work of the Atlantic Energy Ministers� Forum which has been
active in the areas of energy efficiency and awareness, renewable
energy, and research and analysis of the electricity sector.
Promoting Atlantic Canada
Given the robust economy in Alberta, premiers discussed the
possibilities to expand business opportunities and partnerships in
Alberta. Premiers will lead a mission there early in the new year.
Premiers plan to meet with business leaders, media and Atlantic
Canadians living in several Alberta communities including Fort McMurray
to deliver the message that Atlantic Canada is a competitive region in
which to do business.
Harmonization of Rules and Regulations for Small- and
Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs)
Premiers re-affirmed their commitment to reduce red tape and streamline
rules and regulations to encourage economic growth, increase the
competitiveness of SMEs, and attract investment to the region. While
progress has been made with the implementation of the Atlantic
Procurement Agreement, Atlantic Provinces Standard Terms and Conditions
for goods and services, and Atlantic Harmonization Trucking Strategy,
premiers recognize that more opportunities exist to improve the region�s
competitiveness. Premiers acknowledged the importance of working with
stakeholders towards continuously improving the business environment,
and have directed their ministers to consult with Atlantic stakeholders
to target key areas in which opportunities exist for additional
harmonization, and/or streamlining of regulations.
Atlantic Regional Economic Development
Premiers reaffirmed their commitment to promote the long-term economic
competitiveness of the Atlantic region and to joint action on key
competitiveness issues and opportunities. They call for a true
partnership with the federal government which reflects the priorities of
all Atlantic Provinces where economic development activities are
coordinated, complementary, and delivered through cost-shared bilateral
agreements. To expedite this, premiers are requesting a meeting with
ACOA minister, Honourable Peter MacKay, and federal regional ministers,
Honourable Loyola Hearn and Honourable Greg Thompson early in the new
year.
Atlantic Premiers� Walking Challenge
Premiers agreed to participate in the 2007 Atlantic Premiers� Walking
Challenge initiated by Premier Graham, a four-month event where they
will wear pedometers and log their step count. The challenge is to
walk through the equivalent of the four Atlantic Wonders (Confederation
Bridge, Gros Morne National Park, Fundy National Park, and the Cabot
Trail) by the end of the challenge. The total of all four selected
Atlantic Wonders equals 544 km or 652,800 steps. By participating
in this event, the premiers are leading by example and demonstrating the
importance of physical activity to overall wellness.
Premiers Report on Progress on the Council of Atlantic
Premiers� Action Plan
The premiers received a progress report on the implementation of their
Building on Progress: Atlantic Action Plan 2005-08 adopted in
June 2005. Premiers noted progress in a number of sectors:
Health - provinces are
taking steps to integrate the use of electronic health with
diagnostic imaging picture archiving and communication systems as
Atlantic Canada is a recognized leader in this area;
Government procurement
- the region continues to pursue joint procurement tendering
opportunities, building upon the examples of the Atlantic drivers�
licence project and the school bus procurement project which
achieved savings in excess of $1.7 million in 2006-07;
Education - premiers
noted that the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and
Training (CAMET) continues to focus its efforts in the areas of
supporting program implementation and improving student performance,
in addition to addressing post-secondary infrastructure and
maintenance needs. CAMET will announce a number of classroom and
teacher resource materials and provide an update on a
federal-provincial-universities-college partnership to address
campus infrastructure renewal; and
Transportation sector -
provinces are harmonizing over-dimensional loads, and common escort
driver training guidelines which will benefit the regional trucking
industry by reducing government red tape.
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Media contacts:
Elizabeth Matthews, Newfoundland and Labrador, 709-729-3960, 351-1227
Marie-Andr�e Bolduc, New Brunswick, 506-453-2144
Sasha Irving, Nova Scotia, 902-424-6600
Patrick Dorsey, Prince Edward Island 902-368-4400
2006 12 06
4:00 p.m.