Premiers get to work on crowded agenda at Yukon meeting

WHITEHORSE — Canada’s 13 premiers are scheduled to sit down today for talks that could finally allow trade to take place between provinces and territories as easily as it happens with the rest of the world.
Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski, who’s hosting his colleagues, said the annual gathering will be focused on getting an agreement.
Critics of Canada’s confusing array of interprovincial trade barriers often point to alcohol sales as a prime example.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark has said it’s “ridiculous” that wine from her province is available around the world — but not in Ontario. Until last week, Alberta had different provincial markups on beer produced outside B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Clark has said such a deal is close.
But that won’t be the only order of business.
It’s a safe bet there will be a call for more health-care funding. Maritime premiers have already suggested they’re looking for a different approach, saying per capita funding works against them and their aging population.
The federal Liberals have promised to negotiate a new health accord with the provinces and territories, including a long-term deal on funding.
Reforms to the Canada Pension Plan are also on the agenda, but Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said she doesn’t expect the premiers to work out a common position on the issue at this meeting.
On Wednesday the premiers met with the leaders of national aboriginal organizations. They agreed there’s no need to wait for an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women to get to work on the issues behind the problem.
“Governments can make investments to end violence amongst our people, amongst indigenous women and girls, and to deal with investments in housing and education and training and daycare and shelter and detox centres and wellness centres,” said National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations after the meeting.
Pasloski agreed improvements could be begin right away.
“The federal government, the provinces, the territories, and the indigenous governments and leaders need to continue to act now, that we don’t wait for the results of the inquiry before we begin to move forward. That was acknowledged by everybody in the room.”
The federal government is expected to release details about the inquiry shortly.
The premiers and aboriginal leaders also discussed how to develop natural resources and their associated infrastructure, including pipelines, with the consent and participation of First Nations.
“To governments — federal, provincial, municipal, and into industry — the message is simple: before you build anything, build a respectful relationship with indigenous people,” said Bellegarde.