Redford headed to Quebec for meetings
Energy and health care are expected to be on the agenda when Alberta Premier Alison Redford has her first face-toface meeting with Quebec Premier Jean Charest next week.
The Wednesday sit-down in Quebec City will give the two leaders a chance to discuss a number of issues before the Council of the Federation meeting with all the other premiers this month, a spokeswoman for Redford said.
“There will be a number of things on the agenda, and I’m sure the national energy strategy will be one of them,” the spokeswoman, Kim Misik, said.
“It’s just time for them to sit down and talk about a few things. It’s pretty informal.”
Redford has spoken about her desire for a national energy strategy, with provinces working collaboratively to develop resources and get them to new markets.
It would involve co-operation on environmental standards and new infrastructure, she said.
So far, the governments of British Columbia and Saskatchewan have expressed support for the concept, though Prime Minister Stephen Harper said this week he is still unclear on what it would entail.
Redford and Charest will probably also discuss federal healthcare transfers, which will be one of the leading topics at the Council of the Federation. Alberta has long complained it has been shortchanged on such transfers compared with other provinces, and plans to seek a better deal when the current one with Ottawa expires.
Before the private chat with Charest, Redford will meet with the Quebec provincial cabinet. On Thursday, she will travel to Toronto to speak at the Sir John A. Macdonald dinner at the Albany Club. The organization’s website bills it as one of Canada’s oldest private clubs “for those who influence, celebrate, debate, and promote Canada’s conservative and political history, ideals, values and leadership.”
Past speakers at the Macdonald dinner have included former Ontario premier Mike Harris, former federal finance minister Michael Wilson and former federal PC leader Robert Stanfield.
“She’ll talk about her vision, and I’m sure energy and health care will come up again,” Misik said.
The Council of the Federation meeting takes place in Victoria, B.C., on Jan. 16 and 17.