Canada’s premiers are set to gather in Winnipeg from July 10th to 12th, where they will discuss and collaborate on key issues impacting Canadians. Their discussions will build upon the outcomes of the various First Ministers’ Meetings over the past year. Canadians will be watching for the premiers to speak to topics most concerning right now. So, what’s on the agenda for July’s meetings? The premiers will continue the discussion on these key issues from their last meeting: economic recovery and greening the Canadian economy, Indigenous reconciliation, healthcare, promoting innovation and clean technology.
During previous meetings, the premiers also spoke to the importance of advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Leaders committed to collaborating on initiatives that promote Indigenous self-determination, improve socio-economic conditions, address the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and advance the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The premiers have committed to continuing to prioritize Indigenous reconciliation efforts during July’s meeting. They are expected to outline a comprehensive national reconciliation strategy aimed at addressing systemic issues, promoting cultural preservation, and fostering partnerships with Indigenous communities.
The premiers have continuously emphasized the need for concerted efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment. As a group, they agreed in previous meetings to enhance collaboration on carbon reduction strategies, promote clean energy initiatives, and further support sustainable development across the country. Namely, the premiers discussed opportunities for collaboration on greening provincial and territorial economies. Recognizing the urgency of addressing climate change and environmental challenges, the federal, provincial, and territorial governments are prioritizing initiatives to promote clean and renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect natural resources. The premiers will likely continue the discussion on expanded investments in green infrastructure, electric vehicle charging networks, and renewable energy projects.
On the healthcare front, as the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic cools down, the premiers have remained focused on speaking about the pandemic impacts to their healthcare systems in February. The leaders emphasized the importance of a coordinated and resilient healthcare system, ensuring continued equitable access to vaccines, strengthening public health measures, and enhancing healthcare infrastructure to better handle future pandemics or challenges. They highlighted the growing pressures on provincial healthcare systems, including rising costs, an aging population, and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. July’s First Ministers meeting will follow the healthcare funding agreement with Prime Minister Trudeau that took place after the last First Minister meeting in February. February’s meeting with the prime minister presented the premiers with a $196.1-billion offer from the federal government for the country’s healthcare provincial/territorial healthcare systems. The amount is set to flow through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) – and in addition, the federal government agreed to spend $25 billion for bilateral deals tailored to each province and territory’s healthcare system’s needs. Although this deal was struck, the premiers are still concerned that this is not enough to create long-term sustainability to improve Canadian healthcare. The premiers will build on this during July’s meeting, as access to healthcare services continues to be an urgent concern for Canadians widely.
Recognizing the lasting impact of the pandemic on the economy, the premiers spoke about strategies for economic recovery and job creation across Canada. Both the federal government and the provincial counterparts are currently aiming to boost key sectors including innovation, technology, and green industries, to stimulate growth and build a resilient post-pandemic economy. Prime Minister Trudeau and federal Innovation Minister Champagne had been consistent in saying they want Canada to become a world leader in innovation and green technology. Trudeau said that the country has “all the ingredients to be a global leader in clean technology,” and the federal government’s goal is to “position Canada as a hub for clean technology innovation by supporting research and development, attracting investment, and fostering collaboration between industry and academia.” Given the growing emphasis on this, the premiers are likely to speak to what this looks like across their provinces and territories.
As summer begins and the premiers will be busy meeting on all of these pressing issues in Winnipeg, Canadians will be closely watching for what comes out of this jam-packed agenda.
