Premier Gordon Campbell is in Ottawa today meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and provincial premiers to work together to support B.C. families, workers and the economy.
January 16, 2009
HighlightsPremier Gordon Campbell is in Ottawa today meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and provincial premiers to work together to support B.C. families, workers and the economy.
Premier Campbell will promote several ideas aimed at supporting families in B.C. and across Canada, including:
- Extending Employment Insurance and the federal Work-Sharing Program to support forest workers.
- Accelerated infrastructure spending, including examining the possibility of a national housing program to keep construction and forestry workers employed while building needed housing.
- Continued reduction of labour and trade barriers between provinces.
- Adoption of a national wood-first strategy to promote using wood in public construction projects.
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In PerspectivePremier Gordon Campbell is in Ottawa today, attending a First Minister's meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. While Harper has held a number of informal meetings, the last of which was on November 10th, this is the first formal gathering of the Premiers to be held during his three years in office. Talks will revolve around four central issues: strengthening the economy, infrastructure spending, aiding workers, and the unemployed.
Today's meeting falls less than two weeks before the Conservative government's Throne Speech, and the survival of the federal government may hinge on provincial and municipal support. But for Premier Gordon Campbell, it's less about federal politics and more about the people.
"I'm going to unite to talk about what's important for Canada. We have to unite...to meet the needs of Canadian families," the Premier said at Wednesday's annual Truck Loggers Association Convention in Vancouver.
Premier Campbell has previously met with Premiers Stelmach and Wall on the issue of eliminating labour mobility and trade barriers between the various provinces, and plans to urge this point at the first minister's meeting today.
"We have to get through this economic turmoil together," Campbell said.
Standing up for families, Premier Campbell is also pressing for a one-year extension to forestry workers on employment insurance.
"It is a very important issue for workers who are facing some pretty difficult economic times right now. I think automobile workers deserve support, but I think forestry workers also deserve the same kind of support," Campbell told reporters.
To help aid the forestry industry, Campbell has slashed the stumpage rate to less than $5 per cubic metre and seeks to raise the maximum height on wood-frame buildings from four to six storeys. He also intends to require BC wood to be used in future public structures.
"We have obligations as leaders. to establish confidence," said Campbell.
The Premiers met yesterday with Aboriginal leaders and are meeting this morning with Prime Minister Harper in Ottawa.
