Released on June 17, 2011
Premier Brad Wall leaves Monday for the 2011 Western Premiers Meeting in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Wall says the backdrop to all discussions will be the important leadership changes that are altering the political terrain across the west.
"This will be the first Western Premiers Meeting for British Columbia Premier Christy Clark as well as Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski," Wall said. "It will also be the final Western Premier's Conference for Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, and it will be a chance for me to formally acknowledge a career marked by years of dedicated service to the people of that province, and a man who had a vision for prosperity and co-operation amongst all jurisdictions in our region."
The meetings begin Monday afternoon and conclude Wednesday June 22. One item of particular importance on the agenda will be discussions on this spring's serious flooding in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Premier Wall and Manitoba Premier Greg Sellinger will be discussing how western jurisdictions can work co-operatively to advance the federal commitment on a new, national disaster mitigation strategy.
"Most disaster damage and rebuilding costs are entirely preventable," Wall said. "Investments in prevention provide a four-to-one return on investment and they limit the misery and anguish these disasters cause our families."
Wall says he is also honoured to be spending June 21, National Aboriginal Day in the historic Fort Simpson, ancestral home of the Deh Cho First Nations and the oldest continuously occupied trading post on the MacKenzie River.
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927