Making Progress for Better Health Care and Economic Growth

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Making Progress for Better Health Care and Economic Growth

Nova Scotians will see better health care and tangible improvements to the economy through measures adopted today, June 22, by the Council of Atlantic Premiers.

"Atlantic premiers are coming out of today's meeting united," said Premier John Hamm. "We are speaking together with one voice, for better health care, for a stronger economy, for sustaining our foundation industries, such as agriculture, for stimulating emerging industries, such as energy, for co-operating more closely to bring down barriers to trade, new growth and new jobs."

At the 10th meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers Monday, June 21, and Tuesday, June 22, at Acadia University in Wolfville, the premiers agreed to reiterate their longstanding call for the federal government to dedicate new health and social dollars to cover 25 per cent of total costs by the end of the decade, in concert with strengthening the equalization program. They will also continue to co-operate in areas such as a common drug review, electronic health records and primary care.

"In Atlantic Canada, we're prepared to do our part to work together to improve health care," added Premier Hamm.

In addition to a planned or expected Council of the Federation and First Ministers' meeting on health care, the Atlantic premiers will be pushing for their own meeting with the prime minister to establish a new co-operative approach for growing the Atlantic economy.

"We see a day that with sustained growth the Atlantic provinces will be self-sufficient," said Premier Hamm. "But that can only happen with a federal government willing to work with us, rather than against us."

The premiers also agreed to act on a number of issues raised in a meeting with the Atlantic Farmers Council. To increase local food consumption, the Atlantic Agri-Food Action Plan will conduct consumer research to find out what Atlantic Canadians know about local products.

"We listened to the concerns our farmers brought forward on the best way to ensure our region has a sustainable agricultural industry for generations to come," added the premier. "This information will be essential to moving forward on this plan with our farmers."

The premiers further agreed to support the efforts of the Atlantic Farmers Council to secure the approval of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to establish an Atlantic Alternative Energy Centre at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro.

Internal trade barriers will also come down through the adoption of standard terms and conditions on government purchasing by the four Atlantic premiers. This will oversee the submission and evaluation of vender submissions to provincial government tendering opportunities and will be posted on the websites for the Council of Atlantic Premiers and all Atlantic government tender opportunities, effective June 30.