Released on July 2, 1998
The premiers of the four western provinces and two territories meet inYellowknife, NWT, July 3 and 4, 1998 to work on key common issues.
"My main priority is to finish the ambitious work we've begun,"
Premier Roy Romanow said today. "Western Premiers were instrumental
in launching critically important national initiatives in the past
three years. Our focus this year should be to finish what we
started."
Romanow's priorities at this week's Western Premiers' Conference are:
Completing the National Child Benefit: "Western Premiers helped launch
this initiative Canada's first new national social program in 30
years. It not only helps kids in poverty it makes a major
contribution to health care. Poverty is the major determinant of
health. The child benefit finally began on July 1st, with
contributions from both orders of government. But we only have the
first installment. The Benefit isn't fully funded, and needs to be
within two years if we're going to meet the goal of getting kids off
welfare by the turn of the millenium. We also need to begin
addressing some of the other issues important to children, through a
National Children's Agenda."
Infrastructure and transportation: "Rail line abandonment and
deregulation pose fundamental threats to Western Canada's
economy. There is a blindingly obvious need for a joint National
transport and infrastructure strategy. I hope my colleagues and
I will shape and advance an approach on this issue that our other
partners find compelling."
Federal grain review: "We need a standstill on rail line
abandonment until Justice Estey has completed his review. I'll
be working with my colleagues on a common effort to bring this
about."
National fiscal dividend: "Canada's health care system made a
major contribution to balancing the federal budget. Saskatchewan
backfilled all of Ottawa's health care transfer cuts but not
all provinces were able to do so. Now that we are on track for
some substantial federal surpluses, the federal government should
be reinvesting back into the health system. I hope my colleagues
and I will make the case, with some vigour, at this Western
Premiers' Conference."
Romanow added that he and his collegues would discuss the current
review of Canada's Social Union. "Discussions between the
provinces and the federal government are at a critical stage. My
colleagues and I need to take stock of progress to date and make
it very clear to our negotiating partners that it is very
important that we succeed."
Among other issues, the talks address new approaches to the
federal spending power and the setting of national standards for
programs in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction.
"These negotiations are about making Canada work better," Romanow
said. "There's going to have to be some give-and-take, but I
firmly believe we can move forward."
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For more information, contact:
Brian Topp
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier
Regina
Phone: (306)787-1126
(306)536-1185 (cell)
In Yellowknife:
Explorer Hotel
Phone: (867)873-3531