A meeting of Canada’s finance ministers next week promises to usher in an era of renewed cooperation with the federal government, Finance Minister Allen Roach says.
“I look forward to meeting our new federal finance minister, Bill Morneau – and my provincial and territorial colleagues – and sharing Prince Edward Island’s priorities,” the minister said. “It is my hope that we can work together with our federal partners on lasting solutions that will benefit Islanders well into the future.”
Minister Roach will focus on the following areas during the December 20-21 meetings in Ottawa:
• Infrastructure – Prince Edward Island requires flexibility to access federal infrastructure funding. Conditions put in place on the current federal infrastructure programs by the previous government have limited the province’s ability to access the federal contribution. Negotiations will result in changes to the programs that more closely align with Prince Edward Island’s infrastructure priorities.
• Jobs and the economy – Growth in Prince Edward Island’s manufacturing and exports has benefited the province’s economy in light of downturns in the energy and mining sectors nationally. We are committed to working collaboratively with our federal and provincial partners on ways to improve economic performance for all Canadians.
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) – Our province will continue to encourage Islanders and Canadians to save for their retirement by strengthening the CPP.
• Canada Child Benefit – Reducing child poverty is an important shared responsibility of the provincial and federal governments. Prince Edward Island will ensure that the enhanced benefits remain with low-income households.
“Once we hear the federal proposals on all of these issues,” Minister Roach said, “we can begin working cooperatively with this new government to make our revenues more sustainable, strengthen and grow our economy, and help Islanders make a bright future for themselves and their families.”