Canada's premiers call on federal government to discuss infrastructure strategy

Canada's premiers wrapped their three days of meetings Wednesday with calls for the federal government to sit down with them for a dedicated first ministers' meeting to discuss infrastructure strategy and funding.

Canada’s premiers wrapped their three days of meetings Wednesday with calls for the federal government to sit down with them for a dedicated first ministers’ meeting to discuss infrastructure strategy and funding.

“True federal partnerships are needed to ensure progress, but (with) respect for provincial and territorial jurisdictions and responsibilities, to recognize all of our unique circumstances and needs,” said Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, who hosted the meeting.

Stefanson said the premiers want the dedicated sit-down with the federal government to include talks about strategic infrastructure — including community, economic, and competitive infrastructure — as well as economic trade corridors.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said that infrastructure needs to extend to health-care and housing infrastructure.

The last time the premiers met with the federal government was in February to discuss increasing health-care transfers, when the latter tabled a $196.1-billon, 10-year offer. Quebec is now the only holdout to ink a bilateral deal with the federal government, laying out particular conditions on the funds.

Healthcare remained a focus for the premiers during the days-long meeting, with The Canadian Press reporting Tuesday the leaders of the provinces and territories are hoping to see the federal government streamline international recruiting to help with staffing shortages. They also heard recommendations for ways to tackle gaps in the system from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

The premiers also discussed critical minerals, energy security, and climate change, specifically as they relate to Canada’s need to compete against the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which provides billions of dollars in clean energy incentives south of the border, Legault noted.