HALIFAX,
NS, July 17, 2024 /CNW/ - Canada's Premiers concluded their annual
summer meeting by reflecting on the state of
federal-provincial-territorial relations and ways to improve the
federation for the benefit of all Canadians.
The federal-provincial-territorial relationship is central to a
strong Canada, domestically and
internationally. Canadians expect their governments to work
together.
Ensuring Canadians have access to high-quality, timely, and
publicly funded health care is an ongoing top priority for
Canada's Premiers. Premiers
reiterated their commitment to taking action to improve health
outcomes.
Premiers also discussed the importance of Canada's Arctic sovereignty and security,
relationships with international partners, and meeting NATO
commitments.
Governments Working Together for Canadians
Federal engagement with provinces and territories has become
increasingly limited and inconsistent, as the federal government
seeks to unilaterally advance programs in areas of provincial and
territorial jurisdiction.
Our federation works best when all orders of government respect
constitutional authority. In recent years, federal actions
have repeatedly encroached on provincial/territorial jurisdiction
without adequate consultation, collaboration or funding. When
the federal government unilaterally overreaches through
legislation, regulation, selective investments and taxation in
areas of provincial and territorial responsibility, Canadians end
up with ill-suited one-size-fits-all programs that are underfunded
and do not meet the needs of residents in all regions of the
country. If federal funding ends, provinces and territories
can end up footing the bill for federal programs. The federal
government must secure the agreement of provinces and territories
prior to acting in areas of provincial or shared
jurisdiction.
Adequate long-term funding, collaboration throughout the design
and implementation processes, and program flexibility are essential
to ensure provinces and territories can continue to meet the unique
needs and priorities of their residents.
Premiers expressed significant concerns with some of the current
management practices of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Greater engagement and collaboration are needed on the management
of fisheries resources overseen by the federal government. Premiers
support the position of Newfoundland and Labrador that these fisheries be jointly
managed and call on the federal government to develop such an
approach.
Health Care
Taking action to improve health outcomes for Canadians is a key
focus for premiers, including recruitment and retention of health
care workers and improvements to the delivery of quality, timely,
and culturally appropriate health services. Partnership,
cooperation, and respect for unique needs across the country are
fundamental to ensuring health care systems have the resources and
flexibility to meet the needs of Canadians.
Provinces and territories urge the federal government to respect
provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and to collaborate as a
true partner on the long-term sustainability of health initiatives
and improved health outcomes. Federal initiatives such as dental
care, pharmacare, and long-term care must be developed in a way
that is truly collaborative, aligns with provincial and territorial
priorities, and respects jurisdiction.
Premiers remain fully committed to ensuring all Canadians
receive the care they need through effective health care systems
across the country, funded appropriately by the federal government.
Premiers also agreed to continue to focus on health care innovation
and discussed the importance of accelerating patient access to new
and life saving publicly funded medicines and committed to further
work in this area. Premiers agreed to work toward a common,
streamlined licensing process for doctors, based on the Atlantic
Physician Registry, while respecting Québec's specific context.
Public Safety
Premiers are taking action to improve public safety and keep
violent offenders and drug traffickers off the street. This
includes multifaceted work with community partners in response to
complex factors such as growing requests for investments in mental
health and addictions supports, combatting gang activities through
both prevention and intervention, and addressing community safety
in rural and remote regions.
Premiers have serious concerns about repeat violent offenders.
Last year's amendments to federal bail legislation represent
valuable progress, but recent troubling incidents suggest this
legislation may not be functioning as intended. Premiers call for a
thorough review of the implementation and application of bail
reform and urge the federal government to consider any necessary
changes, including further legislative amendments.
Public safety requires ongoing efforts on a range of
interconnected issues – including poverty and homelessness,
addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges – and provinces and
territories are committed to continuing to do their part. Premiers
are calling on the federal government to increase support for and
collaboration with provinces and territories on rehabilitation to
address the underlying causes contributing to recidivism, as many
people in correctional centres experience substance use and mental
health disorders.
Arctic Security and Sovereignty
A strong and secure Canada
depends on a strong and secure Canadian North. Premiers welcomed
the federal defence policy update and its potential contributions
in the North. Canada's trade and
economic relations with the U.S. is also founded on Canada being a strong, safe, a secure ally,
and partner.
Premiers also emphasized that more must be done to safeguard
Arctic security and sovereignty and show Canada's commitment to its North and
northerners. This includes maximizing use of existing underutilized
federal assets, while furthering investments in robust multi-use
infrastructure that protects our country and supports the
well-being of northern communities.
Premiers highlighted that provinces and territories can be
effective partners in Canada's
security, maintaining vigilance against foreign interference,
supporting the development of domestic critical minerals supply
chains, and helping to ensure the security of transportation
corridors, energy sources, and vital infrastructure. Premiers look
forward to working more closely with the federal government to
address these important concerns.
Canada-U.S. Relations
The prosperity and security of Canadians and Americans are
integrated and mutually beneficial. Canada's provinces and territories are stable,
democratic, and peaceful allies of the
United States. Further, provinces and territories are key
strategic partners in priority areas including critical minerals,
and energy. This relationship is a strategic asset in providing
North American energy security.
Premiers discussed the importance of maintaining strong and
mutually beneficial relations across North America, including strengthening Arctic
security, maintaining well-functioning integrated supply chains,
and continuing open, rules-based trade. The free trade agreement
review in 2026 provides an opportunity to further strengthen our
trading relationship.
Premiers will continue to work collaboratively with each other
and the federal government to ensure U.S. leaders and policymakers
are fully aware of the benefits of the unparalleled North American
relationship. Premiers are strongly committed to representing
provincial and territorial interests in that relationship,
including communicating provincial and territorial jurisdiction
over natural resources to our U.S. partners.
Provinces and territories continue to monitor and address issues
that may affect the Canada-U.S. relationship. Premiers will
continue to build and maintain relationships with key partners at
the U.S. federal, state, and local levels, as well as with key
business, labour, and community partners.
Canada and the World
Premiers discussed Canada's
role as a trusted, stable ally in addressing global challenges,
including through long-standing commitments to democracy,
multilateralism, diplomacy, upholding the rule of law, and
humanitarian efforts. Provinces and territories continue to play an
important role as stable economic partners and sources of essential
goods that the world needs, including food and energy. Canada fulfilling its NATO obligation of
defense spending of 2% of GDP is an important element of being a
stable ally and strong economic partner.
Premiers urged the federal government to work with them to
prevent foreign interference particularly towards our institutions,
the economy, vital infrastructure, and critical supply chains by
ensuring the sharing of timely and accurate information and
intelligence.
The federal government must respond to organized crime
activities at our border, including by increasing RCMP, Port
Police, and Canada Border Services Agency resources. Federal
leadership is also needed to deter and prevent the importation of
chemical precursors that are used in the production of deadly
illicit drugs. Provinces and territories are committed to
collaborating with the federal government on these critical public
safety issues.
Ontario's Premier Ford to
Chair the Council of the Federation
On August 1, 2024, Ontario Premier Doug
Ford will assume the Chair of the Council of the Federation.
Ontario will host the next summer
meeting of Canada's Premiers on
July 21 – 23, 2025.
SOURCE Canada's Premiers