Western Premiers Focus on the Economy, Affordability and Future Prosperity
Press Release
June 27, 2023
WHISTLER, B.C. – Premiers of Canada’s Western provinces and territories met in Whistler to discuss approaches to diversify and strengthen their shared economy, and opportunities to build future prosperity.
Premiers discussed the ongoing wildfire crisis and the serious threat catastrophic weather events pose to communities, the economy and critical infrastructure. They will continue to work together, and with the federal government, to support communities and ensure adequate resources are available to keep people safe and reduce threats to homes and livelihoods.
Western Premiers had productive discussions on many shared priorities including: strategic infrastructure and corridors; climate action and sustainable development; energy security; immigration; labour markets and mobility; Arctic security and sovereignty; and community safety.
Action is required to address the challenges facing Western Canadians. They expect governments to take fair, respectful and constructive steps to improve affordability and position Canada for economic renewal and prosperity. This includes addressing critical fiscal and infrastructure challenges in the North.
Western Premiers noted Canadians are best served when the uniqueness of each province and territory is recognized. The federal government must respect provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and federal action must complement regional and local priorities.
Strategic Infrastructure and Corridors
Western Premiers are committed to working together to create and improve strategic infrastructure and have agreed to identify opportunities to enhance trade corridors to help increase the flow of vital goods across the country and to international markets. Nation-
building infrastructure, such as ports, roads, airports, telecommunications, energy and digital and community infrastructure, is essential to economic growth and connecting people and communities. Reliable corridors and efficient port operations support global food and energy security while providing economic security for Canadian families. Improved efficiency will help address the ongoing affordability crisis as well as advance Canada’s strategic interests including
Arctic security and sovereignty.
The federal government must collaborate with provinces and territories on future infrastructure needs. It must also improve project approval timelines while reducing red tape to address ongoing project delays. Communities are experiencing unprecedented inflationary pressures and cost overruns on existing projects due to supply chain issues and input costs.
Provinces and territories are urgently seeking details on how these pressures will be addressed and what replacement for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) will be forthcoming. On June 15, Canada’s Premiers wrote to the Prime Minister to reiterate provinces’ and territories’ shared priorities on infrastructure funding and policy in the absence of federal direction on a program to replace the ICIP. Western Premiers call on the federal government to respect the principles for the next phase of federal infrastructure funding that were articulated in that letter.
Climate Action and Sustainable Development
Global action is critical to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Provinces and territories have taken and continue to take actions to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Addressing climate change requires collaborative action on adaptation and mitigation strategies. Provinces and territories will continue to adapt their strategies to address their local needs and priorities, as well as to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Western
Premiers call on the federal government to engage with provinces and territories collectively and individually on supporting provincial and territorial adaptation and mitigation strategies and on timely, long-term funding sufficient to implement these strategies.
Geopolitical factors amplify the challenge and opportunity of a transition to lower-emissions energy sources and renewables. International cooperation, such as exporting low or zero emitting Canadian LNG, hydroelectricity, uranium and hydrogen can play a role in reducing global emissions. Premiers renew their call on the federal government to support emission credit trading across international borders and work with provinces and territories to finalize the rules under Article 6 to ensure they receive credit for reductions resulting from actions in
their jurisdictions, as a means to support emissions targets.
Forthcoming Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) changes by the federal government must be advanced in close collaboration with provinces and territories, and not shift risk and costs to provinces, territories and municipalities. The renewed DFAA should be accessible, efficient and flexible so that it supports Western Canadian communities affected by disasters.
Energy Security
Canada has an important role to play in global energy security, including through the provision of traditional energy sources, such as oil and gas, LNG, uranium and hydroelectricity, and emerging technologies and solutions such as hydrogen and renewable fuels.
Canadian energy products need to get to Canadians and to international markets. The energy sector will continue to evolve and adapt to new technologies in search of new low to zero- emitting fuel sources. The federal government must respect the jurisdiction of provinces and territories, and work with them to reduce emissions while they continue to develop existing and future energy sources. Significantly increased federal investment is needed in Western provinces and territories, commensurate with investments elsewhere in the country.
Western Premiers call on the federal government to work with them to secure international and domestic market access and to invest in the energy and electricity infrastructure needed to realize the region’s economic potential, including accelerating support for generation and transmission infrastructure. Premiers expressed concern that the federal Clean Electricity Regulations are unattainable and unaffordable for some jurisdictions given current technologies and timelines.
Western Canada has the opportunity to become a reliable source and supplier of critical minerals and rare earth elements for Canada and its international partners. Western Canadians are already benefiting from development of copper, nickel, zinc, uranium, potash,
molybdenum, lithium and helium, and future critical minerals extraction and processing will continue to generate economic prosperity. Western Premiers call on the federal government to ensure the accelerated approval processes it identified in Budget 2023 are implemented in a timely manner.
Contact:
Jimmy Smith
Deputy Communications Director
Office of Premier David Eby
Jimmy.Smith@gov.bc.ca
1 (250) 882-289
IBF4
