Making Atlantic Co-operation Work for Nova Scotians

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Making Atlantic Co-operation Work for Nova Scotians

Effective regional co-operation, health care and softwood lumber will be among the issues Premier John Hamm will raise at this week's Council of Atlantic Premiers meeting in St. John's, Nfld.

"These meetings are a great opportunity for the four provinces to identify real solutions to the issues Atlantic Canadians care most about," said the premier. "By developing a common Atlantic position on these issues, we will increase our ability to advance the interests of this region, and particularly the interests of this province."

Premiers will be reviewing a proposed action plan of specific regional measures to improve health care and education, to protect the environment and to strengthen the economic position of Atlantic Canada.

"This council was established last year to bring governments together to improve the lives of citizens through a regional approach," said the premier. "This action plan will be one of the ways we can accomplish our goal."

Premier Hamm noted that fair federal funding for health care continues to be an ongoing issue of concern for provincial governments, especially those in Atlantic Canada, which depend upon equalization to properly fund medicare. Since 1993, the federal government has cut over $1 billion in health and social transfers and continues to place heavy restrictions on equalization payments.

"Our position on health care is not just about money. It's about provinces working together and with Ottawa to ensure that people who need health care get it -- be they in a hospital, a nursing home or a doctor's office," said the premier. "On the other hand, provinces like Nova Scotia have been pretty much alone in funding health care. We can only make health care better in Canada, regardless of where people live, if Ottawa steps up and becomes a real partner in funding health care, through Canada Health and Social Transfer payments and equalization. That's an irrefutable fact."

Economic development issues will be also discussed, with particular emphasis on the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute.

"It's critical for Atlantic Canada to speak with one voice on the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute," said the premier, who along with his provincial colleagues has worked closely with the Maritime Lumber Bureau. "Our position is clear and unequivocal: no export tax, no countervail duty and no anti-dumping measure."

The premiers will meet privately this evening, Wednesday, Nov. 7, with formal meetings scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8.