Improving health care, equalization, climate change, and regional cooperation were the main topics of discussion at the Council of Atlantic Premiers' meeting held today in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
The Atlantic premiers agreed on a number of national and regional issues including:
- joint position statement on improving health care;
- the need for the federal government to return to a full funding partnership with provinces and territories to ensure sustainable health care services across Canada;
- the requirement for a strengthened equalization program;
- a call for federal collaboration with provinces and territories on climate change; and
- a commitment to continue their aggressive approach to regional cooperation designed to improve public services and reduce barriers to business within the region.
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE
Atlantic premiers agreed that health is the top priority of Atlantic Canadians. Premiers Lord, Grimes, Hamm and Binns developed a joint position statement on improving health care (attached). The four premiers agreed to move forward with this common position to the First Ministers' Meeting on Health.
All premiers called on the federal government to become a more meaningful funding partner in health care. Atlantic premiers will advocate a new funding partnership between the federal government and provinces at the upcoming First Ministers' Meeting (FMM) on health to be held early in the new year.
Atlantic provinces continue to lead in interprovincial cooperation in the delivery of health care services.
FISCAL ARRANGEMENTS
Atlantic premiers were encouraged by the recent Speech from the Throne that committed the Prime Minister to meet with all premiers to establish a comprehensive plan for health care reform, including new federal investments, to be included in the next federal budget. They called again on the federal government to strengthen Equalization so that it meets the constitutional commitment to ensure that provinces are able to provide reasonably comparable services at reasonably comparable levels of taxation. Premiers have been encouraged by growing consensus on the need for a strengthened Equalization Program as called for in the Senate Finance Committee Report (March 2002), the Conference Board of Canada Study: "Fiscal Prospects for the Federal and Provincial/Territorial Governments," as well as Commissioner Roy Romanow's recent Winnipeg speech on the future of health care in Canada.
Atlantic premiers advocate the Equalization Program be strengthened through the immediate elimination of the ceiling, the development of a ten-province standard and broadened revenue coverage.
The four Atlantic premiers noted that the increased federal investment in health care must be structured to meet the needs and priorities of Canadians regardless of where they live.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is a serious global issue that requires leadership, collective and sustained long-term action to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. All Atlantic premiers are committed to addressing climate change and are signatories to the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers' regional climate change action plan at the 2001 Conference, held in Westbrook, Connecticut.
Premiers expressed their ongoing concern with the current inadequacies of the federal government's greenhouse gas reduction plan.
The Atlantic premiers called on the federal government to collaborate with provinces prior to ratification of the Kyoto Protocol based on the twelve principles set out by provinces on October 28, 2002 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Premiers specifically noted that Canada's approach to addressing climate change must ensure that no region or jurisdiction is asked to bear an unreasonable burden and economic competitiveness is not compromised.
REGIONAL COOPERATION
In November 2001, the four Atlantic premiers adopted an action plan for regional cooperation. Following up on their commitment to public accountability, the premiers today released Working for Atlantic Canada: An Action Plan for Regional Cooperation, Report on Year One.
The report highlights activities undertaken by the Atlantic provinces during the past year. The premiers noted that tangible results have been achieved in the priority areas of health, education and transportation. Notable among these achievements are:
- literacy projects focusing on young children;
- an agreement fostering greater sharing of resources amongst the region's community colleges;
- establishment of a common drug review process that reduces duplication and produces consistent high quality reviews;
- ongoing harmonization of trucking regulation; and
- the development of a strategy for the deployment of intelligent transportation system technologies.
Status reports on projects with multi-year work plans are included in the Report on Year One. The Atlantic provinces agreed to continue to pursue regional benefits in the areas of health human resource planning, energy regulation, on-line service delivery, post-secondary education, research and innovation, immigration, regional air service levels, and local access to equity capital funding.
Atlantic premiers agreed to begin work on a joint Atlantic wellness strategy and campaign to promote healthy living.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Atlantic premiers endorsed Halifax's bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The premiers recognized the regional economic and social benefits of this event, which is among the world's largest sporting and cultural festivals.
Please see the Council of Maritime Premiers Web site for the "Atlantic Premiers' Joint Position on Improving Health Care" and the "Report on Year One Council of Atlantic Premiers' Atlantic Action Plan for Regional Cooperation"
http://www.CMP.CA/en-main1.html