Premier Dexter Wraps Up Successful Meetings in Winnipeg

NOTE: A social media release, with high-res downloadable pictures and audio clips, will be available soon at http://gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2010-08-06-cof .

Premiers and territorial leaders concluded the Council of the Federation summer meeting in Winnipeg today, Aug. 6, with discussions on Canada-U.S. relations, water quality, health-care, and the promotion of the Bay of Fundy in the Seven New Wonders of the World contest.

Premier Darrell Dexter led the talk on Canada-U.S. relations, which focused primarily on energy co-operation and trade. Premier Dexter also used the discussion as an opportunity to encourage premiers to agree on common trade and energy-related messages to use when visiting the United States, particularly when advocating that large-scale hydro and tidal energy be included in U.S. legislation as "clean energy".

Premier Dexter also met with his colleagues to stress the need for all provinces and territories to work together to find innovative ways to deliver quality health care with existing money.

"As a province with a small, aging population that suffers from a high rate of chronic diseases, Nova Scotia is forced to find ways to deliver better health care while keeping costs down," said Premier Dexter. "Other provinces and territories face similar challenges. We need to work collaboratively to ensure that Canadians have timely access to quality health care when they need it."

Jurisdictions also shared their innovative approaches in chronic disease prevention, primary health care and quality health-care delivery. Nova Scotia provided examples of initiatives that could help other jurisdictions facing similar issues, one of which focused on community paramedicine and an innovative service-delivery model for the 1,200 people who live on Long and Brier islands.

Water issues, like quality and conservation and the need for more research and development in this area, were also a topic of significant importance for Premier Dexter.

"Nova Scotia has been working on the creation of a water strategy that will help government make decisions on how to best to preserve and protect the province's precious water resources," said Premier Dexter. "I wanted to make sure my colleagues knew that Nova Scotia is doing, and will continue to do, all we can to make Canada's water supply one of the safest and healthiest in the world."

One of the highlights of the meeting for Premier Dexter was the commitment of premiers from across the country to help promote and support the Bay of Fundy in the contest to be named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Premier Dexter and New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham took the opportunity to lobby fellow premiers to encourage all Canadians to support the Bay of Fundy in the contest.

The Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tides in the world. It is one of 28 finalists, and the only finalist in North America, in a worldwide campaign led by the Switzerland-based group, the New 7 Wonders Foundation.

"Joseph Howe used to brag about the high tides at the Bay of Fundy, and rightly so," said Premier Dexter. "It is truly a magnificent sight and should be recognized as such. I encourage everyone to vote online to ensure that the Bay of Fundy becomes one of the next seven wonders of the world."

The new wonders will be announced Nov. 11, 2011.