Western premiers will discuss the flood and wildfire disasters which have affected much of the West and North at their 2011 conference being held next week in Yellowknife, N.W.T. This was said by Premier Greg Selinger as he is scheduled to lead these discussions.
“The prime minister has indicated the federal government is prepared to work with interested provinces and territories to develop a new, long-term national disaster mitigation program and we are looking forward to getting this work underway as soon as possible,” Selinger said.
The premier added the serious challenges facing the agricultural economy on the Prairies, such as the amount of unseeded acreage, will also be discussed.
Another priority on the western premiers’ agenda will be energy and the need for improved transmission facilities including those required for clean and renewable Manitoba hydro power. The premiers will also discuss immigration, training and health issues, and will participate in community events marking National Aboriginal Day on June 21.
Selinger noted the annual Western Premiers’ Conference, which started in Winnipeg in 1973, is an important forum for the western provinces and northern territories to advance co-operation in the region and to prepare positions on federal-provincial and international issues. The conferences help western premiers focus on key priorities for discussion by all 13 premiers at the annual Council of the Federation (COF) meetings later in the summer, said Selinger who has been the chair of the COF since last August. British Columbia’s new premier, Christy Clark, will take over as COF chair at the 2011 premiers’ meeting in Vancouver in July.
The Yellowknife conference of western premiers, which runs from Monday, June 20, to Wednesday, June 22, will be hosted by the Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland. Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall, Alberta’s Ed Stelmach and Nunavut’s Eva Aariak will also attend, as will two new premiers: Clark and Darrell Pasloski from Yukon.
