Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter gestures during a news conference at the 18th Session of the Council of Atlantic Premiers meeting on Monday, November 29, 2010 in Pictou, Nova Scotia.
Atlantic premiers vow united front on federal transfers - CTV News
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PICTOU, N.S. — Atlantic Canada's premiers are vowing to form a united front on federal transfers as Ottawa discusses the renewal of those payments in three years.
The premiers met Monday to discuss several issues, including transfer payments they say are crucial to provide health, education and social services. The arrangement that determines how those transfers are paid expires on March 31, 2014.
"We do need to make sure we are in the face of the federal government," said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, who was attending his last meeting of the Atlantic premiers before leaving politics Friday.
"If we stand back and allow people to take care of us, that simply isn't going to happen."
Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz said Ottawa needs to hear that it has a responsibility to ensure the same level of service no matter where people live.
"We need to make sure that the federal government hears us loud and clear that they are not going to get rid of their deficit by taking it out of health care and education which are vitally important to all Canadians," Ghiz said at a joint news conference at a resort near Pictou.
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter said the Atlantic premiers are well aware that it is in their best interests to speak together on an issue that is vital to the region.
"It's absolutely imperative that we work together to ensure the federal government responds appropriately to the realities of Atlantic Canada," Dexter said.
New Brunswick's David Alward said the region could learn from Western Canada, which he said has worked effectively together on issues important to that area of the country.
"They really have worked as a common front," said Alward. "As we go into negotiations over the next two years, the timing is more important than ever that we be unified."
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has recently mused that Ottawa may use inflation and economic growth as a guideline for future transfer payments. That has raised concerns in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, where that province's finance minister has said any move that would result in the reduction of federal transfers would be "very worrisome."
A spokesman for Flaherty reiterated Monday that the federal government will not cut transfers to the provinces in its efforts to balance the budget.
"The minister has been clear for some time now -- we will not reduce Canada's deficit by reducing transfers to provinces," Chisholm Pothier said in an email.
"We have increased transfers to provinces every year since we've been in government and that will continue to grow."
Negotiations are underway to put a new payment deal in place when the current system expires in 2014.
The Atlantic premiers are expected to meet again in New Brunswick in May to finalize a regional position on federal transfers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds like each region of the country is starting to unify with their neighboring provinces in order to get work done properly..... they mention the west and in the last little while, the Atlantic provinces have been working much closer with one another as well.... seems to be the only way to get the federal government to do anything these days.
Which raises the question as to why?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for provinces unifying to achieve their common goals, but it's starting to look more and more like Canada is dividing into 3-4 groups of provinces where most are starting to work more with one another then they are with the rest of the country/federal level...... where the rest of the country/federal level is viewed almost like the enemy.