Premier Leaves for First Council of Atlantic Premiers Meeting

Engaging the federal government in a partnership for Atlantic regional economic development will be a key issue Premier Rodney MacDonald will discuss with his Atlantic counterparts at this week's meeting of the Council of the Atlantic Premiers (CAP).

The premiers will also discuss fiscal imbalance, the Atlantic Gateway, immigration, energy, and harmonizing business regulations for small- and medium-sized enterprises at their meeting in St. John's, NL, today, Dec. 5 and Wednesday, Dec. 6.

"I look forward to meeting with my colleagues for my first official CAP meeting," said Premier MacDonald. "As Atlantic provinces, we have areas of common interest, and, I believe, by reaching consensus in these areas, we can improve the economy of the whole region."

The premiers will also receive an update on Building on Progress: Atlantic Action Plan 2005-2008, a plan the council developed and adopted in June 2005.