Released on May 28, 1997
Premier Roy Romanow said today that Saskatchewan's priorities at theupcoming Western Premiers' Conference will be social program reform,
transportation and economic and northern development. The conference
will be held May 28-30 in Campbell River, British Columbia.
"Our government has targeted investments in priority areas such as
transportation and the well-being of our children," Romanow said.
"While these are priorities for Saskatchewan, I am disappointed by the
lack of action from the federal government on these issues,
particularly the well-being of our children, an issue that touches all
provinces.
"At this conference I intend to build on and protect these investments
in a way that benefits not only Saskatchewan but the other western
provinces. Together we can pressure the federal government to move
more quickly in addressing these issues."
Romanow said that progress on the national child benefit is
encouraging, but more needs to be done.
"The next step is to develop a roadmap to fully implement and finance
a national program to address the problem of child poverty in Canada.
This continues to be my top priority. This plan should include an
unequivocal commitment by the federal government to the second
installment of $850 million and a specific date for this investment.
"Recognizing that the fully-developed National Child Benefit will
cost in the order of $2.5 billion, the plan should also include a
federal commitment to the third step - another investment of
$800 million. Completion of these steps by the year 2000 would
clearly demonstrate the positive outcomes that can be achieved
when all governments work together."
The Premier said that he also intends to discuss plans for a
National Children's Agenda to improve the health and well-being
of Canadian children and families.
"Fostering healthy child development is one of the major
challenges facing Canada and one the federal government has
failed to address. A National Children's Agenda will provide for
a coordinated national approach to early childhood care and
development. In Saskatchewan, we are focusing on early
intervention and early childhood development through the
award-winning Saskatchewan Child Action Plan. This approach
needs to be extended across Canada in a national plan."
Romanow said that the positive growth performance of the western
economy is encouraging, but it continues to depend on the
province's ability to trade. This makes transportation, the
system producers count on to get agricultural and other products
to both Canadian and international markets, absolutely critical
to sustaining high performance in the western economy and to its
ability to generate growth and jobs.
"Western producers need a transportation system that is as
efficient and effective as possible. Unfortunately our producers
and our economy have paid the price for the federal government's
inability to efficiently manage grain transportation and the
resulting foul-ups. I believe their views and interests need to
be represented as forcefully as possible by all Western
Premiers."
Saskatchewan will also participate in a discussion that will lead
to the design of a concerted economic development strategy and
workplan for the northern parts of the western provinces and
territories. This will complement and reinforce the work getting
underway in our Northern Leaders Forum and would result in jobs
and training opportunities for northerners, the Premier said.
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For more information, contact:
Al Hilton
Intergovernmental Affairs
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-7962