2013 Western Premiers’ Conference

Premiers  also met with Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer, reaffirming  Western Canada’s commitment to ensuring a strong relationship with the United  States.  

A Skilled  Workforce

Western  Premiers discussed the acute labour and skills shortages affecting their  jurisdictions.  To ensure these shortages  do not restrict economic growth, Premiers agreed on the need to: 

   
• expand the labour force through skills  training;
   
• attract workers through an effective  approach to immigration;
   
• ensure Aboriginal people are  well-positioned to fully participate in the economy; and
   
• engage with the private sector to  encourage and support its necessary involvement in solving the skills  shortage.  

Premiers  support a flexible approach to skills training that reflects the diverse needs  of the West. Premiers support greater  involvement by employers in skills and job training reflecting diverse  provincial and territorial economies. There  is concern that the proposed Canada Job Grant could interfere with provincial and  territorial priorities in skills training and jeopardize the success of  training programs already in place, particularly those that help the most  vulnerable people, including persons with disabilities, who need additional  supports to find jobs.

As an area of provincial and  territorial jurisdiction, any federal initiatives in skills training should  allow any jurisdiction to opt out with full compensation.

New  federal initiatives should also take into account the unique skills training  required for Canada’s Aboriginal people.  Canada’s Aboriginal people represent an important part of Canada’s workforce.  Premiers’ priority is to ensure Aboriginal people have the necessary skills and  job readiness to participate fully in the Canadian economy.

A  more responsive and flexible immigration system is a vital component of developing  a skilled Canadian workforce. Premiers expressed support for efforts to create  new models for economic immigration, but noted that existing Provincial and  Territorial Nominee Programs continue to be essential tools to help meet  economic and labour market needs.  

Premiers  emphasized the importance of federal-provincial-territorial collaboration in  reforming Canada’s immigration system and agree that reforms must:

   
• increase  overall immigration levels;
   
• provide  a greater role for provinces and territories in the selection of all  immigrants;
   
• ensure  Provincial and Territorial Nominee Programs are not negatively affected by the  implementation of the Expression of Interest model;
   
• include  a streamlined visa processing system that is client-focused and ensures Canada  is  competitive in the global market for talent and tourism; and
   
• ensure timely and reliable access to  Temporary Foreign Workers in order to fill legitimate labour and skills  shortages, recognizing that Provincial and  Territorial Nominee Programs provide an effective path for these workers to  become Canadian citizens.

Strategic Investments in Infrastructure

As the primary funders of  infrastructure, provinces and territories are making strategic investments to maximize  economic benefits, create jobs, and improve productivity.  

Western Premiers welcomed the federal  government’s commitment to a new Building Canada Plan and are pleased the new  program will include a “base plus per capita” formula. Premiers look forward to  discussions with the federal government regarding the renewed program and  emphasized that infrastructure funding programs should be fair, flexible and  align with provincial and territorial priorities. An effective infrastructure  program is critical in supporting economic growth.  

Sustained  economic growth in the West requires adequate and affordable housing to support  business investment and to attract workers. In areas where there is limited  supply of housing, particularly in remote areas, adequate and affordable  housing helps to reduce the cost of living. Western Premiers discussed the  critical importance of an effective partnership with the federal government in  the housing field. They also agreed to explore joint procurement opportunities  in social housing.

Building Canada’s Energy Future

Growing  established markets and opening new ones for all Western energy exports will  help strengthen our economies and create jobs across Canada. From liquefied  natural gas to uranium to oil and hydroelectricity, enhancing energy  infrastructure to get our products to markets in an environmentally sustainable  manner and working collaboratively are priorities of Western Premiers. Enhanced  market access is essential for ensuring that Western provinces and territories  receive full value for their resources.

Premiers agreed that in order to continue to seize available  opportunities, Canada must further diversify its energy export markets  internationally while ensuring continued fair and open access to North American  energy markets.  Premiers also discussed domestic energy interests, including  the movement of oil from west to east; the need to improve integration of electrical  grids throughout the West and North; and the importance of reducing remote  communities’ reliance on diesel.   Premiers emphasized Canada’s responsibility to continue to transition to  a lower-carbon economy.

Growing International  Trade and Investment

Canada  is a trading nation and western provinces and territories make a significant  contribution to the nation’s economy through their international trade and  investment activities.

Securing  market access with the United States, Canada's largest trading partner, is  vital. Premiers are concerned by the growing number of states considering Buy  American procurement restrictions and calls for new fees at the Canada-US  border. Amendments to US Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations in May  2013 will worsen discrimination against Canadian livestock and do not bring the  US into compliance with its international trade obligations. Premiers support  the federal government's ongoing efforts to resolve the COOL issue, including targeted* retaliatory trade measures if necessary.

International  initiatives such as the Comprehensive  Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership and  bilateral negotiations with India, Japan, and Korea are important free trade  initiatives which must be concluded. Premiers appreciate the role provinces and  territories have been able to play in CETA negotiations and look forward to  their successful conclusion.  Western  provinces and territories encourage the federal government to extend this  successful approach to other negotiations.

Premiers emphasized the important  role foreign investment can play in supporting economic growth in the West and  agree jurisdictions must cooperate to ensure access to foreign markets. Premiers  agreed on the importance of regional coordination for economic development and  strong cooperation between federal, provincial, and territorial governments in  evaluating and making decisions on matters such as determining the net benefit  of investment opportunities under the Investment  Canada Act.

Protection from Bullying

Premiers  discussed bullying and cyber-bullying and its impact on Canadian youth.  New technologies can accelerate or amplify  bullying and our laws must reflect this reality. Provinces and territories are  responsible for education and Premiers are leaders in promoting an inclusive  and diverse society.  They shared work  underway on the prevention of bullying and cyber-bullying and support for healing  among victims.  Premiers noted that work continues to identify gaps in the Criminal  Code. They commend the leadership of Western Justice Ministers and their  colleagues, as well as new efforts by the federal government, all of which would  provide new deterrence and rehabilitation tools.

Disaster  Management

Premiers  called on the federal government to take steps to put a Canada-wide Public  Emergency Alert System into operation, building on the system pioneered in  Alberta. To accomplish this, Premiers intend to work collaboratively with broadcasters  as the support of broadcasters is required for implementation.

Premiers  also called on the federal government to maintain its support levels to help  provinces, territories and local governments deal with future natural disasters.   Premiers look forward to the fulfillment  of the federal government's 2011 commitment to establish a new, Canada-wide  disaster mitigation initiative, separate from other national programs.  Premiers caution, however, that they would  not support a plan to finance the new program by scaling back federal disaster  assistance levels. Premiers also noted that serious inadequacies in emergency  management in Aboriginal communities remain and cooperation among governments  is essential to improve services in these communities.

Improving Water  Quality

Premiers  discussed the importance of coordination across jurisdictional boundaries to  protect water quality.  Premiers agreed  to explore ways to improve the exchange of information and best practices to  address water quality challenges across watersheds, such as the Manitoba-led  Lake Friendly Accord.

2014 Western  Premiers’ Conference

Premier  Aariak confirmed that Nunavut will host next year’s Western Premiers’  Conference

Contact  Information:
Sally  Housser
Press  Secretary, Government of Manitoba
Sally.housser@leg.gov.mb.ca
Cell: 204-297-5693

 * "The word 'targeted' was inadvertently omitted from the text of the communique which was distributed
    immediately following the conclusion of the conference."