Premiers Discuss Number of Regional Issues

Premier Rodney MacDonald agreed with his regional counterparts on a number of issues at the 15th meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers in Fredericton today, May 9.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Premier MacDonald, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.

The following issues were discussed:

Atlantic Collaboration for Citizens Building on agreements from previous Council of Atlantic Premiers meetings and the Meeting of Atlantic Cabinets in January, progress was made in a number of key areas.

Health Promotion and Wellness Significant progress was made to identify opportunities for collaborative initiatives for healthy food choices, physical activity and reduction in smoking. The premiers endorsed the following Atlantic initiatives:

• Measures to encourage healthy lifestyles in Atlantic Canada. The premiers will co-operate on a health and wellness campaign to be launched in the fall.
• The premiers recognized the role workplaces play in promoting and supporting healthy lifestyle choices. They directed ministers to develop a model policy for healthy meetings in their respective jurisdictions. The policies are to include guidelines to ensure the availability of nutritious food and incorporating healthy practices into government-sponsored meetings and events.
• The premiers directed ministers to develop options to implement an Atlantic dietician call-centre service and foster workplace leadership to support employee tobacco cessation.
• The premiers committed to bring ministers and a broad range of partners together for a regional forum on wellness, to be hosted by Prince Edward Island in the fall.
• The premiers also discussed the importance of assisting Atlantic youth in need. The use of illicit drugs by youth has risen over the past decade with economic and social impacts. The premiers discussed collaborative approaches to youth treatment which may include the Portage Atlantic Facility at Cassidy Lake, N.B., and other recognized services.

Affordable Housing Housing is a major factor in quality of life and is linked to individual health and well-being, educational achievement, labour-market attachment and poverty alleviation.

The Atlantic provinces are facing critical challenges to maintain social housing and responding to new demands and agreed to engage the federal government to establish a partnership to provide affordable social housing in Canada.

They called upon the federal government to return to federal social housing contribution levels of $2 billion annually, renew housing programs set to expire in March 2009 and engage with ministers responsible for housing on the broad range of housing issues facing the country.

Maritime Radio Communications System Recent flooding in New Brunswick and observing Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada have highlighted the need for the Atlantic region to be economically strong and resilient.

Each of the Maritime provinces operates an independent radio communications system to co-ordinate emergency responder communities.

Maritime premiers agreed to explore the development of a common public radio communications system to achieve efficiencies and provide seamless operation between provinces. The premiers directed ministers to pursue the develop a memorandum of understanding to formalize the partnership.

Atlantic Collaboration for Economic Growth The premiers agreed that the Meeting of Atlantic Cabinets identified a clear path for collaborative work to strengthen the region's economy. Initial efforts by governments are contributing to a competitive, sustainable, resilient and secure region.

Research and Development Premier MacDonald will host a symposium to look at the issue of research and development and commercialization. It will be in collaboration with post-secondary institutions and the business community.

Atlantic Gateway The premiers discussed the importance of the Atlantic Gateway strategy and its benefits to the Atlantic provinces and Canada.

The premiers noted that several key infrastructure projects are being advanced that will contribute to greater regional interconnection as well as the region's ability to manage increasing international trade with traditional markets, such as North America and Europe, and emerging markets, such as China and India.

The premiers agreed that the federal government should invest immediately in the Atlantic Gateway to position the region for increased economic growth. Raising awareness of the competitive advantages of Atlantic Canada internationally, and within North America, is fundamental to the gateway's future success.

The premiers acknowledged the valuable contribution of the private sector and urged continued support to develop a competitive, multi-modal transportation system that will link the Atlantic Gateway to key markets.

Given the importance of rail service to the development of the Atlantic Gateway, the premiers welcomed the recently announced review by Transport Canada of non-passenger rail service. They committed to actively engage in the review process to ensure service levels support the economic development of the region.

Climate Change The premiers noted that their governments continue to collaborate on environmental issues and are working to mitigate and adapt to the harmful effects of human activity on climate. Atlantic provinces are collectively working toward the New England governors and Eastern Canadian premiers' regional target to reduce greenhouse-gas emission levels to 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. Provinces are implementing climate-change initiatives to achieve reductions and promote adaptation. The Premiers noted the importance of energy efficiency and the potential contribution that it will make toward reaching mitigation targets.

The premiers acknowledged the work of the Atlantic energy ministers to promote energy efficiency, reduce energy demand, investigate options for development and use of low-carbon fuels and facilitate the development of low-emission renewable energy, such as tidal, nuclear and wind.

The premiers also recognized the importance of working with the federal government to develop regulations and agreements that recognize Atlantic Canada's unique circumstances for climate-change mitigation and adaptation. The premiers encouraged the Council of Atlantic Ministers of the Environment to continue these efforts when they meet with federal Environment Minister John Baird in Wolfville next month.

Internal Trade At the August 2007 Council of the Federation meeting in Moncton, the premiers endorsed a five-point plan to strengthen the Agreement on Internal Trade. The plan calls for strengthening the national internal trade agreement in the areas of dispute resolution, labour mobility, energy, agriculture and transportation.

The Atlantic premiers today discussed progress on the council's five-point plan and urged federal, provincial, and territorial governments to conclude their work before the Council of the Federation's summer meeting, July 16 to 18 in Quebec City.

Enhanced Driver's Licences As of June 1, 2009, all Canadians entering the United States by air, land, or sea will need to present an approved document, such as a valid passport, to confirm citizenship and identity. Several states and provinces are evaluating the viability of an enhanced driver's licence as a convenient and acceptable border document for land and sea crossing.

The Atlantic premiers reviewed an analysis commissioned by Atlantic registrars of motor vehicles that assessed the costs, technical requirements and benefits of producing enhanced licences for Atlantic Canadians. The information was considered in conjunction with the results of discussions with the Canadian Border Service Agency.

The premiers directed the Atlantic registrars of motor vehicles to consider options for regional co-operation to gain shared benefits and cost efficiencies.

Agriculture The premiers discussed the importance of agriculture and the increased pressures the industry is facing. They directed ministers responsible for agriculture to develop a framework agreement, focusing on collaborative initiatives to promote the development of the agriculture sector in Atlantic Canada. They also noted opportunities for Atlantic Canada food industry to supply the federal government's international food aid activities.

Promoting Atlantic Canada The premiers agreed to continue efforts to promote Atlantic Canada's trade, investment and partnership opportunities. To achieve these objectives, premiers announced a mission to Calgary in October.

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