Canada's Premiers to Meet in Charlottetown

The Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island and current Chair of Canada's Premiers, will be welcoming his colleagues from across Canada to Prince Edward Island in early December. Binns will chair a meeting of Canada's Premiers in Charlottetown on December 4th and 5th.

The focus of the meeting is to finalize work on the establishment of the Council of the Federation. Work on building the Council began this past summer in Charlottetown during the 44th Annual Premiers Conference, and it promises to promote a new era of constructive and cooperative federalism in Canada.

Premiers will also discuss their priorities for work in the year ahead, including an anticipated meeting with Honourable Paul Martin early in 2004. Health continues to be the number one priority for Canadians and sustaining the health system is the top priority for Premiers.

Premier Binns indicated that Canada's Premiers have consistently demonstrated their ability to achieve positive results for Canadians by working together. "I am anticipating a productive meeting and continued progress towards addressing the needs and priorities of Canadians," said Premier Binns.