The Council of the Federation is a council in Canada made up of the Premiers of Canada's thirteen Provinces and Territories. Its main function is to provide a united front in dealing in provincial and territorial negotiations with Canada's Federal Government. It also promotes "constructive Confederation", working for Canadian unity and recognizing differences amongst the provinces and territories.
The Council of the Federation meets twice every year to discuss issues relating to the provinces and territories, and their relationships with each other and the Federal Government.
The idea for such a body had long been present, but it was Quebec PremierJean Charest who suggested it in preparation for negotiations with the Federal Government. The idea was (for the first time) embraced by all of the Premiers, and the council was formed.
The first true test of this united front occurred on September 13-16, 2004 when the Premiers met with Prime MinisterPaul Martin to discuss reforms to Canada's universal healthcare program. The premiers remained united, and in the end won $41 billion of federal funding for healthcare over the next ten years.
Issues
Healthcare funding and innovation
Economic development (especially in the wake of the BSE crisis)
Canada occupies all of North America N of the United States (and E of Alaska) except for Greenland and the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Canada is a federation of 10 provinces—Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia—and three territories—Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory.
During the Ice Age all of Canada was covered by a continental ice sheet that scoured and depressed the land surface, leaving a covering of glacial drift, depositional landforms, and innumerable lakes and rivers.
Feeds |
Contact