1998 Western Premiers’ Conference

For Immediate Release

July 4, 1998

COMMUNIQUÉ

Western Finance Ministers Report

Premiers reviewed the Western Finance Ministers' Report. The Finance Ministers' Report addressed funding for social programs in Canada. It noted that western governments have increased funding for health care even while federal support has decreased by $6.2 billion per annum. Provinces are now responsible for 86 percent of the cost for health care, post-secondary education, and social services. Premiers endorsed the report which called on the federal government t

   
• restore funding for health care, education and other social programming priorities of Canadians;
   
• increase funding through existing fiscal arrangements including CHST, equalization and territorial formula financing, rather than introduce new federal programs in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdictions; and
   
• introduce an escalator for CHST cash to ensure that provinces and territories have sufficient future resources to deal with cost pressures in the areas of health care, education and social services.

Premiers also agreed with the conclusion in the Western Finance Ministers' Report that the federal strategy of off-loading services for Aboriginal peoples is unacceptable and called for the federal government to accept and assume its full responsibilities for Aboriginal peoples both on and off-reserve.

Western Premiers affirmed their commitment to work with the federal government and other provinces to ensure consistent, non-discriminatory, fair and transparent tax policies and measures.

Framework Agreement on the Social Union

Western Premiers reviewed the status of negotiations on the Social Union Framework Agreement based upon the five objectives mandated by First Ministers when they met in December, 1997:

   
• a set of principles to guide social policy;
   
• collaborative approaches to the use of the federal spending power;
   
• appropriate dispute settlement mechanisms between governments;
   
• clarifying ground rules for intergovernmental cooperation; and
   
• identifying processes for clarifying roles and responsibilities within various social policy sectors.

Premiers emphasized that a Framework Agreement that accomplishes these objectives will be of significant benefit to Canadians because it will:

   
• foster cooperation between governments;
   
• enhance our capacity to establish the national social programs that Canadians value so highly; and
   
• provide for flexibility in the delivery of national programs that respects the diversity of Canada, while respecting those principles and values that bind us together as Canadians.

Western Premiers reiterated their commitment to successfully conclude an Agreement.

Health Care

Premiers reaffirmed their commitment to the five principles in the Canada Health Act. They noted that Canada's health care system is evolving rapidly and governments must cooperate on an on-going basis to provide the best services to Canadians.

Premiers discussed the importance of restoring federal funding for health care through the existing federal-provincial fiscal arrangements. They expressed strong concern about recent statements by the Prime Minister in which he said that any new federal dollars would not flow through the Canada Health and Social Transfer because he cannot trust the provinces to spend the money on health care. Premiers noted that the provinces pay for and deliver the bulk of health services. Premiers agreed that if federal funds are available for spending in health care, these funds must first go to restoring the annual $6.2 billion in cuts to the CHST. They committed their governments to directing additional federal support to core health care services.

Provinces called on the federal government to negotiate joint interpretation of the Canada Health Act as part of the negotiations on the Framework Agreement on the Social Union. Such an Agreement would assist the federal, provincial and territorial governments in working cooperatively to meet the health care needs of all Canadians.

National Child Benefit

Western Premiers reiterated their commitment to work towards the elimination of child poverty and acknowledged that this year's initial investment in the National Child Benefit is an important first step.

Western Premiers called for the full implementation of the program by the year 2000, noting that this would require a total federal investment of $2.5 billion and a total provincial re-investment of $1.5 billion.

Western Premiers propose additional federal investments of $850M in 1999 and 2000 and additional provincial re-investments of $500M in each of the same two years .

Western Premiers concluded by emphasizing that the full implementation of the National Child Benefit by the year 2000 would be a great national accomplishment and one which they, and Western and Northern Canadians, strongly support.

National Children's Agenda: Developing a Shared Vision

Western Premiers expressed their support for the development of the National Children's Agenda and see it as an opportunity to articulate a shared Canadian vision on the well-being of children.

Premiers noted that partnerships and the inclusion of aboriginal perspectives will be critical to success.

Programs and Services to Persons with Disabilities:

Western Premiers received a status report on consultations that are taking place across the country this summer on a discussion paper entitled In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues. Premiers encouraged Canadians to participate in these discussions.

1999 Western Premiers Conference

Premier Klein announced that the 1999 Western Premiers Conference will be held in Drumheller, Alberta in May.

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