YORKTON, Sask. – A meeting of Canada’s first ministers should be called in the wake of the Quebec referendum, the western premiers said at their annual conference Nov. 1.
They want to discuss more power for the provinces, thereby keeping Quebec in Canada. A meeting with the prime minister would follow.
The unity issue dominated the conference which began the day after the Quebec referendum, bumping other agenda items. A unity statement issued by the premiers said the result of the vote shows Quebec’s desire for change, and that reform of the country’s intergovernmental structure must be addressed.
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“The national agenda also includes significant decentralization, reduction of overlap and duplication and greater provincial authority and responsibility,” said the statement. “These are matters of traditional importance to the province of Quebec.”
Reduced transfer payments from the federal government indicate Ottawa can’t
continue to make all the decisions, the
premiers said.
“This is the devolution of federal authority to the province in light of reduced transfer payments,” said Alberta premier Ralph Klein. “We have resolved to get this meeting as soon as possible.”
He said if Ottawa is going to make changes for Quebec, the other provinces should have proposals of their own.
Manitoba premier Gary Filmon pointed to health care as one area of extensive overlap in government even though the provinces are supposed to be providing the service. He said the federal government has 8,000 health employees but is cutting provincial budgets.
“The feds have become a junior player in the whole area of health care,” Filmon said. “It’s time the federal government lived up to its responsibility. And if they are going to be a junior partner, they can’t set all the rules.”
Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow said the provinces should meet first “to sort out where we stand” but he wants to involve Ottawa soon. He also said Quebec should be invited.
“We have had meetings without Quebec,” he said. “I don’t like it. I think that’s wrong for Quebec. They should be at the table.”
The three western premiers and Nellie Cournoyea, leader of the Northwest Territories and John Ostashek, leader of the Yukon met in Yorkton, Sask., Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
