Released on December 17, 1998
Economic Development Ministers from three western provinces and twonorthern territories meeting in Regina today agreed to form a regional
team to better promote the economic potential and development of
Western Canada.
Ministers attending the meeting were: Saskatchewan Economic and
Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon (meeting
chairperson); Manitoba Deputy Premier and Industry, Trade and Tourism
Minister James Downey; Alberta Economic Development Minister Patricia
Nelson; and Yukon Economic Development Minister Trevor Harding. The
Northwest Territories was represented by Economic Development
Assistant Deputy Minister Doug Doan.
"We have the fastest growing economies here in Western Canada,"
MacKinnon said. "We see lots of potential to work more closely on a
regional basis, to enhance our presence in the global economy."
The economic development ministers agreed on the following general
areas of co-operation:
The provinces and territories will work together to promote
Western Canada nationally and internationally and will develop an
action plan on investment attraction and trade enhancement.
"We in Alberta are not the competition for other provinces in Western
Canada. The rest of the world is," Nelson said. "We need to
co-operate on a western basis to take on the global competition."
The provinces and territories will co-operate in explaining
western Canadian trade issues to the governments of American
northern border states.
"Manitoba strongly supports regional co-operation as it is in the
best interest not only of our respective jurisdictions but the
country as well," Downey said. "We also strongly support greater
dialogue with American governors on issues affecting our
provinces and states."
The ministers also agreed on the need for the federal government
to treat the western region fairly. Issues included the
following:
The ministers noted that timely and adequate assistance to
agricultural producers is an important economic development
issue, and that it is a federal responsibility. The
ministers also agreed that the federal government needs to
recognize existing provincial programs in designing federal
assistance programs.
On transportation, there was a clear recognition by the
ministers of the urgent need for federal action on a
national highways program as a critical component of
economic development. The minister also agreed that the new
NAVCAN fee structure requires re-examination, particularly
with respect to northern and remote communities.
The ministers called on the federal government to act
quickly on its budgetary commitment to provide economic
development funding to the northern territories. They noted
that the Yukon and the Northwest Territories have been
without funding through economic development agreements for
almost three years.
"We have an emerging economy in the Yukon, an economy that is
expanding beyond its total dependence on traditional resources,"
Harding said. "We see similar issues in our resource sector as
in agriculture, and we welcome the opportunity to work together
with our provincial and territorial colleagues."
The ministers agreed to meet in Edmonton in approximately three
months time.
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