Western premiers push for Indigenous opportunity
First Nations’ role in projects must go beyond consultation: Pallister
Western premiers gathered in Edmonton Thursday, tackling issues from climate change and Arctic sovereignty to the opioid crisis as they set the scene for the national premiers meeting in Saskatoon next month.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney hosted the annual summer meeting.
Despite simmering tensions between Alberta and B.C. thanks to duelling positions on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, Kenney and his western-most colleague John Horgan shrugged off questions about their rapport.
Sitting between the pair, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister joked he came to the conference with years of experience as a referee, but didn’t have to use any of it.
“We met (Wednesday) night and we had good, robust discussion,” Horgan said.
“We have worked, I believe, very cooperatively as a group, and I think Premier Kenney and I are off on the right foot.”
Kenney agreed, even as B.C. prepares for its injunction application against Alberta’s so-called Turn Off The Taps law to be heard Friday in Calgary.
“I think we understand each other’s positions very clearly,” Kenney said.
“I made it clear to Premier Horgan that if we see from any province obstruction of the movement of our products … we will take action to defend our vital economic interests.”
But Kenney added he hopes it doesn’t come to that and the two can instead have a respectful relationship to approach issues “with a clear understanding of our mutual goals.”
While the bulk of discussions took place inside Government House Thursday, an informal Wednesday night gathering ended up pushing to the fore talks about Indigenous rights in resource development.
The result was a unanimous agreement that Indigenous communities should have more involvement in project opportunities.
“Not just in the consultation stage and the run-up to building new (projects), but in terms of the wealth creation opportunities, the job creation, the strengthening of those communities,” Pallister said.
“This is a critical piece of how we need to move forward as a country. It’s not exclusive to Western Canada.”
Unlike last year, when Alberta refused to sign the joint communique over the Trans Mountain pipeline spat, this year saw unanimous agreement on a laundry list of western priorities.
The first point outlined in the communique detailed the importance of economic corridors across the nation for transmission lines, communications infrastructure, rail lines and roads.
Those corridors would also secure market access. Yes, that includes pipelines, but also port access and airports which are “critical to attracting the capital needed to create and sustain the economic prosperity Canadians have come to expect.”
The second major item urged action on climate change and the “importance of balancing environmental stewardship and climate action with economic growth and competitiveness.”
Ripping down barriers to internal trade also got a shout-out — Kenney noting it was the strongest language around the issue he’s ever seen — along with removing roadblocks to inter-provincial worker qualifications.
And despite disagreement about the benefit of a carbon tax, premiers also urged the federal government to stay in its lane when it comes to natural resources and health care.
Joining Kenney at the table were premiers John Horgan (British Columbia), Brian Pallister (Manitoba), Scott Moe (Saskatchewan), Bob McLeod (Northwest Territories), Joe Savikataaq (Nunavut) and Sandy Silver (Yukon).
Unanimous support of the priorities for Western Canada indicate the “constructive conversations” Kenney hoped for prior to the meeting managed to transpire.
“We’re all in the right place at the right time with the promise
There’s so much where we can work together to strengthen the federation and strengthen the economies of Western Canada.
that Western Canada offers with our resources, our well-educated people, our strength of our Indigenous people, our new Canadians,” Kenney said in his opening remarks Thursday morning.
“There’s so much where we can work together to strengthen the federation and strengthen the economies of Western Canada.”