Atlantic Co-operation Will Benefit Nova Scotia
The Atlantic provinces are making real progress in delivering the benefits of regional co-operation, Premier John Hamm said today.
As the fifth session of the Council of Atlantic Premiers concluded this afternoon in St. John's, Nfld., Premier Hamm noted that regional approaches are already being implemented for the approval of new drugs and reducing red tape for the transportation industry.
"By the beginning of the new year, the four Atlantic provinces will have a unified drug approval process. This will save taxpayers money and allow governments to ensure that scarce health care dollars go towards ensuring that Atlantic Canadians get the health care they need," said the premier. "And this very week, Nova Scotia approved a set of harmonized trucking regulations, agreed upon by all four Atlantic provinces, that will make it easier to get our goods to market."
These regional health care and transportation initiatives are two elements of Working Together for Atlantic Canada: An Action Plan for Regional Co-operation, which was released today by the Council of Atlantic Premiers. The two-year action plan includes a number of common regional initiatives in key areas, such as: health care, education and skills development, environmental protection, harmonized trucking strategy, e-government, procurement, research and innovation and energy. A timetable for each of the specific commitments will be developed and released at the next meeting of Atlantic premiers.
"This report won't gather dust on the shelf. That's why we are moving quickly to develop a timetable for implementation between now and the end of 2003," said the premier. "It's a sensible plan, it's a doable plan and we have the political will as premiers to turn this plan into reality."
In addition to the progress already reached in common drug approvals and trucking regulations, the premiers agreed to mandate the Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium to collaborate in providing quality and relevant education at the college level and in skills training and development. Premiers also directed their ministers to meet early in the new year to establish the Atlantic Forum of Energy Ministers in 2002.
"Our community colleges need to work together to ensure our young people have the best training opportunities possible," said Premier Hamm.
Premier Hamm and his Atlantic colleagues reiterated their longstanding position that any funding solution for medicare must include a strengthening of the equalization program to meet its constitutional responsibilities. The issue will be discussed during the next national premiers' conference in British Columbia in January 2002, when health care will be on the agenda. They also reinforced their support for the Atlantic Canadian software lumber industry in the current dispute with the United States.