At the 2009 Western Premiers’ Conference, premiers agreed to work in partnership with the federal government to make employment insurance fair for all Canadians.
June 19, 2009
Dawson City – At the 2009 Western Premiers’ Conference, premiers agreed to work in partnership with the federal government to make employment insurance fair for all Canadians.
They welcomed the appointment of the federal working group on employment insurance (EI) and committed to making a joint submission to the committee.
Premiers agreed the following framework should shape EI for the benefit of all Canadian workers:
- Employment insurance should be reformed using a principled approach that gives Canadians equal support regardless of the territory or province they work in.
- It should build a temporary bridge to get workers through these challenging economic times.
- The program should be streamlined from having 58 regions with different eligibility standards to nationwide benefits that reflect employment opportunities in urban centres and rural and remote communities.
- An emphasis on training should be a critical component of the reform.
Infrastructure Premiers applauded federal efforts to invest in major infrastructure partnerships this year.
These are important for short-term economic stimulus.
They agreed the federal government’s high priority on accelerated infrastructure funding is making a significant difference. In their 2009 budgets, western provincial and territorial governments have allocated approximately $40 billion to large-scale public works and capital infrastructure projects in the next two years. This is in addition to projects going ahead under the federal Building Canada Plan.
They stressed that time is of the essence and governments must maintain momentum by continuing to work together to simplify processes, approve projects and deliver results.
Environmental Assessment Premiers supported the need for an amendment to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to permit the federal government to enter into equivalency agreements with provinces and territories, on a case-by-case basis, to help avoid duplication and overlap in the environmental assessment process. They also called on the federal government to replace the Navigable Waters Protection Act with modern legislation.
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Backgrounder Premiers Call for Measures to Reduce Gang Violence Western premiers agreed on measures to help keep their communities safe.
Premiers welcomed recent federal government actions to fight crime and are urging Canada to continue to make changes to the Criminal Code and other legislation to modernize wiretap laws, bail reform, and evidence disclosure requirements to speed up prosecutions.
Premiers agreed that improved information sharing and coordination among provinces and territories is important to enhance the work already underway to curb gang activity.
Provinces and territories were invited to attend the Alberta Gang Crime Summit to be held June 25-26, in Calgary.
BackgrounderAboriginal Partnerships Important for Community Growth Premiers of Canada’s western provinces and northern territories agreed on the importance of modern partnerships ranging from public-private partnerships to other kinds of co-operative working relationships including those with Aboriginal governments.
Premiers noted the importance of continuing to foster innovative partnerships with Aboriginal governments, organizations, communities and industry as these partnerships have the potential to create healthier and stronger communities by making a significant contribution to regional economies.
They noted that governments each have distinct expertise and resources and modern partnerships are new ways of working together to benefit everyone in society and make the most of the opportunities the changing world presents, from the global economy to the digital age.
In these challenging economic times, it is important for the federal government to commit to timely and full implementation of land claim and self-government agreements that will bring certainty and build capacity. Premiers agreed this is vital for healthy, strong communities.
Premiers met at a separate meeting with the Chief and Council of the area First Nation, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. The group discussed self-government, self-reliance and cultural preservation.
BackgrounderPremiers Taking Action on Pharmaceuticals Western premiers will develop a joint western purchasing plan for pharmaceuticals, in order to take advantage of savings that would be realized by having a market of 10 million people in the West.
Joint purchasing on a national level was a key element of the National Pharmaceutical Strategy, endorsed by premiers in 2004. In advance of achieving a national program, premiers have decided to proceed with a western program.
