Council of the Federation-Conseil de la fédération - News Conference-conférence de presse

[00:45:26]Thank you.

[00:45:44]Good afternoon everyone. Bonjour. Thank you for joining today's news conference at conference press. We will start out today with remarks from the chair of the Council of the Federation, Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lance, followed by remarks in French by the premier of Quebec, Christine Keschett. We will then take questions from the media. It is my pleasure now to introduce the premier of Prince Edward Island, Rob Lance.

[00:46:11]Thank you, Andrew, and good afternoon, everyone.

[00:46:14]Over the past two days, Canada's premier's had productive discussions on uh a number of issues that that matter most to Canadians. We met at a time when Canadians are looking to their governments for leadership.

[00:46:30]And as the recent announcement of new US tariffs has shown, we're living in a time when uncertainty is the new norm.

[00:46:38]Decisions made beyond our borders have real impacts on Canadian workers, businesses, and families. The cost of living is rising in every Canadian home.

[00:46:49]Businesses are looking for certainty.

[00:46:52]Communities want to know that governments can work together to strengthen our economy, improve health care, and build a secure future.

[00:47:01]Canadians expect their governments to steer them safely through this difficult time. They want governments to work together, make decisions, and deliver results on the issues that matter most to them. I'm pleased to say we've achieved that goal today. Throughout our discussions, one message remained clear.

[00:47:20]Premers support a strong and united Canada.

[00:47:26]While each province and territory has its own priorities, we've demonstrated that we're far we have far more in common than what divided us.

[00:47:34]Premier's had an open, constructive conversation about strengthening Canada's economy, improving internal trade, building critical infrastructure, enhancing public safety, and ensuring Canadians continue to have access to the services that they rely on. Leadership means bringing people together around shared priorities. It means rolling up your sleeves, getting down to work. That's exactly what we've done over the past two days, and I was honored to serve as chair of this important work.

[00:48:06]Growing Canada's economy, and making life more affordable go hand in hand.

[00:48:12]That's why we discussed how we can remove barriers to trade, support major projects, and create the conditions for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs.

[00:48:25]Affordability means whether families can afford everyday necessities, whether businesses can expand, and whether young people see opportunities to build their future here.

[00:48:38]Canadians expect progress, and that's what premers have focused on. Energy security has become one of Canada's most important priorities.

[00:48:50]Canadians expect an electricity system that's reliable, resilient, and prepared for the future. Prince Edward Island, for us, we need a commitment for new subc transmission cables. This is a major project that will deliver energy security islanders want and deserve.

[00:49:14]Healthc care remains a top priority across the country. We heard that loud and clear. Premers discussed the need to continue recruiting health professionals, improving access to care, and ensuring provinces and territories have the financial resources they need to meet growing demand.

[00:49:33]Strong federal provincial partnerships matter. Predictable long-term funding gives provinces the certainty to plan, invest, and continue improving care for the people that we serve.

[00:49:46]Serving as the chair of the council of the federation has been a real privilege for me. But throughout this week, I was also here as the premier of Prince Edward Island and my responsibility has been to make sure that islanders priorities priorities were part of this national conversation.

[00:50:03]I advocated for stronger healthcare. I advocated for greater energy security. I advocated for economic growth that creates opportunities for islanders and strengthens communities across our province and I continue to make the case that national policies and federal investments must recognize the realities of smaller provinces.

[00:50:29]Hosting the Council of the Federation wasn't simply about welcoming my colleagues to Prince Edward Island. was about ensuring islanders had a strong voice around the table as important national conversations took place here and I believe we achieved that goal and we got some very important work done here.

[00:50:46]Tomorrow, premers will meet with the prime minister here.

[00:50:50]The discussions we had today were about strengthening every province to make Canada stronger.

[00:50:57]We have a shared commitment to strengthen Canada's economy, improving affordability, and delivering results for Canadians.

[00:51:05]But there's no doubt our conversation with the prime minister tomorrow will have a new level of urgency.

[00:51:12]We're looking forward to sharing our priorities tomorrow and working with the prime minister to ensure Canadians see a strong, united approach as we focus on protecting workers, farmers, fishers, businesses, and all Canadians. Thank you very much.

[00:51:28]Thank you, Premier.

[00:51:37]Good afternoon.

[00:51:39]>> Thank you. Good afternoon everyone.

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[00:56:20]Mercy. Madame Premier, we will now move to media questions. For those wishing to ask a question, please come to the microphone. State your name, the outlet you represent, and direct your question to one premier. You will be limited to one question only.

[00:56:38]Kate McKenna, CBC News. Good afternoon, premers. Um, my question is for Premier Mo. Um, today, US Trade Representative Jameson Greer said he's expecting that these Koosma trade talks uh will go into 2027.

[00:56:53]Uh, several premers uh indicated that they thought that a trade deal could be reached in the next 28 or so days. Uh, I'm wondering if uh Mr. Greer's comments um change your mind on that or or if you think that that's still something that could be worked towards.

[00:57:11]>> No, I think I am uh first of all, I would say I'm positive and bullish that we would be able to find an agreement uh in the near term in particular given what is now I think uh 10 rounds of tariffs that have been um indicated by the president of the United States of America. Some of those he has acted on with real impacts to I think in fairness each and every province up here including Saskatchewan. Some of those he has backed away from as well. We have about 27 28 days uh left I think on this most recent announcement which was his 10th announcement. And I uh as I said uh yesterday uh this is an opportunity for us as Canadians and our bargaining team or our negotiating team, Ambassador Wiseman, Janet Sheret and uh led by Dominic Leblanc and ultimately our prime minister uh to really intensify those negotiations in uh the effort to find uh some type of a review and reviewed and renewed uh Kusma which is not only good for Canadian families and Canadian businesses, it is also I would say very very positive for American families and American businesses. The cost of living that we're feeling on the north side of the 49th parallel in our respective provinces. Um the cost of doing business that uh businesses across Canada are experiencing is also happening in the United States of America. And so it's in everyone's best interest in North America, the entirety of North America for us to come to agreement uh in a reviewed and renewed Kusma. Um, I am bullish that we will be able to find that in the near term. However, I'm I'm not entirely confident that we will. Um, and so all all we can do is to make every effort, myself as a subnational leader, to support uh our federal government and support those that are sitting at that bargaining table with information from our respective jurisdiction and each leader up here, each provincial and territorial leader will be doing the same. uh so that we can support that that negotiating team in coming to that agreement as soon as possible. It's good for Canadian families. It's good for American families. And I would uh put forward that the the the competitive threats that we see in the world, the uncertainty that we see globally are not one another. Uh they are other countries around the world. Uh and it would do us very well to review, renew what is the strongest trade agreement in the western world. uh get back to doing what we do best, which is yes, an integrated economy across the 49th parallel, but I would say a highly economic business environment as well uh for all of North Americans. So, Canadians, yes, are looking for that agreement. Saskatchewan businesses are looking for that certainty. Saskatchewan families are looking for that certainty, but I would say equally that American families and American businesses need that certainty as well. So, I'm bullish, but I I'm not entirely confident we'll get there. And just to follow up for Premier Ford, uh Jameson Greer also said that when he spoke with his Canadian counterpart, uh Dominic Leblon did not bring up retaliation. Do you think this is the right approach?

[01:00:12]>> Well, I'm looking forward to sitting down with the rest of the premers and the prime minister. He needs to lead the way. He needs to come up with a a strong plan over the next uh 29 days, and I'm interested in sitting down with them and hearing the plan. I just and I'll just speak for Ontario. Everything's on the table. We can't keep rolling over for Donald Trump. So that's what I believe in. Standing up strong. You negotiate through strength. You don't negotiate through weakness, especially with uh President Trump.

[01:00:43]>> On that note, Premier Ford Rachel Aello, CTV News. You've spoken about standing up to a bully south of the border. How do you feel about this new Gordy How Bridge agreement, which will see Canada have to share revenues sooner than the original deal? Did Canada fail to stand up to the bully this time?

[01:01:02]>> No. What I'm interested in is making sure goods get from US to Canada and Canada to the US. Uh it's more goods travel across the Ambassador Bridge than anywhere else in the entire country.

[01:01:15]Over a billion dollars of goods two-way go back and forth. So, we need to make sure Gordihow Bridge is open. Uh, I don't believe in one bridge having a monopoly, which I've had for years, but the good news is, uh, we're opening the bridge.

[01:01:33]>> Question is for both Alberta and Quebec's premers. Uh, have your fellow premers during your meetings this week expressed any concern with you about how rising separatist sentiments in your respective provinces could compromise the push towards national unity?

[01:01:51]No, I didn't hear any comments on that topic.

[01:01:55]>> Premier Smith. Yeah. No, it didn't come up.

[01:02:09]acceptable.

[01:02:27]followup is for Premier Smith um on energy security uh building on the agreement that you've reached with Ontario regarding uh a pipeline that would uh remain on our side of the border. I was wondering if you had or if you're planning on having talks with Quebec premier about a potential connection that uh could bring Alberta's oil to the province and then perhaps to uh European markets.

[01:02:51]>> Well, I know that we're I mean I'm very excited about the proposal that uh that Premier Doug Ford initiated for the Northern Shield pipeline. Uh delighted to hear that Premier Canoe also expressed some uh some some support for that. And I I would say we're going to first look at the feasibility of that. I think it's a 3,300 km pipeline and so there's a little bit more work that needs to be done on it. In the meantime, uh we'll be working on our West Coast pipeline as the priority. It's a an established route going to southern southern British Columbia and there's a lot of work to do to try to get that approved uh by the September 2027 deadline.

[01:03:38]Brunswick.

[01:04:04]Wow.

[01:04:07]Churchill.

[01:04:48]Hey Doug. Um you mentioned that all options are on the table regarding um leverage with the US. Does that include Ontario cutting off electricity exports to the US or bringing back a search charge um for electricity exports?

[01:05:05]>> Everything's on the table.

[01:05:07]>> Can you maybe elaborate on that? What would it take for you to do that? I know you said you don't speak for other premers, but you've mentioned oil and podash. Are you hoping that the federal government leads a coordinated approach where every province puts something on the table to leverage against the US?

[01:05:26]>> Oh, that can only be done if the rest of the province, it's a team Canada approach and we're going to take the prime minister's lead. So, I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

[01:05:36]I think this is a really good point that the last two questions have highlighted and one that New Brunswick would like to emphasize because there is lots of opportunity for Canada when we work together and New Brunswick sees that as the maritimes hub, the energy hub that is connected to Quebec, to PEI, to Nova Scotia and to the US through transmission lines who has the capacity through our nuclear leadership, through our hydroele electricity uh to support our neighbors and to build partners partnerships like you just described, like we've seen between Newfoundland and Quebec, uh to work together to look at our generation assets, to look at our transmission assets and deliver affordable, reliable, secure energy not only to islanders who uh who want it when it gets really cold and need to know that those subc cables are there and their partners in New Brunswick have their backs. uh but in the interest of Canada as we're connected to the US and we can leverage our assets for Canada's benefit and our position in the world.

[01:06:37]And so for us in New Brunswick, we want to see all of those connections, all of those regional partnerships that take our assets in energy and offer them up to strengthen Canada's economy. And then we can use that economic strength to make the kind of generational investments in health care that our government has been doing. And that we need to see the federal government backing up because our health care needs have been growing at a rate faster than our economy has been growing. We want to make sure that people can have access to the kind of health care that they deserve close to home. We need a growing economy to do that, which means we need energy security and the kind of assets that New Brunswick has backed up by our neighbors and friends.

[01:07:27]Leader energy nuclear leader energy I'd like to weigh in on this one as well. It's I, you know, we we heard the news uh this week uh from the Americans about a direct attack again on forestry families in British Columbia, those that work with wood to make furniture, for example, to add value to our wood products is just inexplicable to me because uh we had the American ambassador hold a mining roundt uh meeting with mining companies looking at opportunities to invest in mines in Canada to secure the metals and minerals that the United States needs. Uh it can't uh be that that is simultaneously the position of the US and that Canada agrees with that. Um we can't have a country on one hand attacking one group of families and workers uh while hoping to have access to the resources in Canada uh that the rest of the world wants. The United States needs to make up its mind. And I will say frankly uh from British Columbia's perspective uh that we support the prime minister making that case at the table. Uh if you want a strong partner, if you want the friendship that's benefited North Americans for generations, uh then let's have that. Uh and if you don't want that, we need to be looking to the rest of the world. The agreement we signed on alcohol uh to support our alcohol producers uh to have access to the full Canadian market uh and the work that we're doing on trade diversification needs to accelerate. And we need to be frank with the Americans that they will not get uh the kind of access that they seek to what's in Canada if this is how the conduct's going to go. If the prime minister calls British Columbia and says he needs support with some big sticks to have conversations at the table, then we'll be there. Uh and I am happy to stand with the prime minister in that kind of discussion because this is just silly and at the end of the day uh the United States needs to decide what they want. Do they want a strong partner in Canada uh where we work together or are they uh are they keen to go it alone but there's not this middle road uh where you attack British Columbombians on one hand and the other hand you're digging up our metals and minerals and bringing them south of the border.

[01:09:57]This is to Premier Lance and perhaps anybody else who wants to take the question. Um there are close to 6 million Canadians without a family doctor. You're asking for a renewal of the 5% increases. I'm just wondering if you can point to any tangible improvements in primary care access to Canadians that have resulted from the increases in funding so far.

[01:10:16]>> We certainly had a robust uh discussion about health care in this country and the need for the federal government to come to the table as a a strong, stable, reliable partner um and that uh that's able to fund universal health care, universal access to health care across this entire country. And that's the bedrock principle and and us being the the the the jurisdiction that's responsible for delivering that is uh is difficult um if we don't have the resources to fund a universally accessible system. Now we know there's challenges uh but we had a robust discussion today about the role that we expect the federal government to play.

[01:10:56]Uh we started off our day with the uh Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. Uh an excellent presentation about the role of of health care in the Canadian economy, the role it plays in uh not only in in bolstering the health of the entire nation, but the role it plays in the economy. It is fundamental to who we are as Canadians. And um we have many challenges that need to be addressed, not least of all here in Prince Edward Island. Um access to primary care. We've got a shortage of, I believe, about 23,000 family physicians in this country. So, we've got to concentrate on workforce uh recruitment and retention here in Prince Edward Island, just as every other province is trying to do.

[01:11:39]Um, we need we're working on regional collaboration um here in in the maritime provinces in our healthcare services that we deliver.

[01:11:47]We can't afford to offer every subsp specialty of healthcare services here in a small jurisdiction, but we can cooperate and we're making progress on cooperation in the region. So, I can point to all kinds of things uh all kinds of measures that we're taking to to improve access to primary care, but that can only be done with a strong stable partner in the federal government. And we had a robust conversation about that today and different options that we'll present to the prime minister tomorrow. Uh but it's going to be an ongoing conversation. We need a long-term commitment. Um, you know, there are there are federal agreements with all of the provinces which will expire um in um in um about um what is it 18 months or less. Um and uh you know many of our provinces are looking at a fiscal cliff in terms of uh funding our health care system. So look forward to that conversation tomorrow with the prime minister.

[01:12:44]I might just add uh the two measures we look at are the number of patients who are attached to a family doctor and then we look at the number of doctors and nurse practitioners who are accepting new patients and we've seen uh great progress on both of those. So 87% of our patients are now attached to a family doctor. We'd like it to be 100%. But we also signed a deal with nurse practitioners so they could open their own practices, take on a panel of 900 patients and bill us directly. We now have a hundred nurse practitioners doing that in our province and we developed a similar approach with family doctors. So we family doctors also take on a panel and so now just at last I checked we have over a thousand uh doctors or nurse practitioners taking on new patients.

[01:13:26]And so I'm happy to share that learning with other uh with other premers but it it does seem that team-based practice and the certainty of a panel arrangement is has been one of the keys to successes in Alberta.

[01:13:39]I'd like to uh chime in as well. Um when we took office in 2023, Manitoba was in 10th place amongst the provinces when it came to having access to a family doctor. And today uh we're number one and we've added about 300 physicians over uh not quite uh three years. And primary care includes a a lot more than just the doctors. There's more doctors practicing in Manitoba today than there ever have been before. Uh but you've also got the nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, you got the OT's, PTS, so many people who can make up a primary care team. And having a consistent approach of investing, trying innovative new approaches, working with um the service delivery organization so that there's work life balance, that's great. But as we think about what is happening between our country and the threat of the the the Trump tariffs, to me, there can be no bigger nation building project than building up this nation's people. And that has to include healthcare, universal public access to healthcare.

[01:14:47]And so for the federal government to see this as an investment I think is a very very important part of a comprehensive strategy to make our country strong and independent and to ensure that frankly there's a good working relationship between us as the provinces and uh the federal government. But at the end of the day this is not just about figures and percentages of funding arrangements and transfers. This is about people. And if we want to get misty eyed and emotional about this country that we love so much, let's think about the seniors who built this country. It's their turn to be able to access health care and we have to make sure that it's there for them, including family doctors, but also including every access every aspect of healthcare. So I think we had a very strong discussion and team Canada is not just united against threats to our economy outside of our borders. I'm very happy that this team is united about taking care of people inside our borders as well too.

[01:15:43]>> Thank you. And if if I could too, this is this a really important question. So I appreciate the question. Um healthy people drive healthy economies. So it's it's really important that we invest in in healthcare. It's really important that we have a a partner in the federal government who continues to do their part. So, we're looking forward to, you know, uh, some discussions with the prime minister and his team about the continuation of, um, the investments from the federal government, but um, they have willing partners here in the premers and certainly in Nova Scotia.

[01:16:12]We're doing our parts. There's more doctors in Nova Scotia today than there has ever been. There are more nur nurses today. There are more more access points. And um the stat we look at quite often is the unattached the need of family practice list. We call that in Nova Scotia. Um at one point that was up to 15% of the population. 15% of the population nationally would still be pretty well respected I think amongst uh the province and territories. Today it's under six. So, um um I I will have a little dispute as to who's who's number one on that, but it would be we have the same we have the same goals on that and we'll continue to do that and we've done that with, you know, opening up access points. Uh we open up a new medical school in in Nova Scotia. That's a really really important thing for for Nova Scotians and I'm really proud of the the process that the team put in place for for credentiing foreign trained uh physicians. um in in 12 weeks or less you can come to Nova Scotia and have your clinical evaluation and if you meet the standards you can be licensed and if you don't then you won't but because we can't jeopardize the standard of care but but the the point of it all is is that u delivering these services for for Nova Scotians and for Canadians it costs money and uh we need we need a partner in the federal government who's there and recognizes that and does their part because as I as I started healthy healthy people drive healthy economies so thank you thank you for the for the question >> if I could add a little few comments to uh I spent most of my career in healthc care and uh to uh premier from Manitoba's comments about staffing. 80% of the cost of our health care system is usually around people between salaries and benefits. And when you think about healthcare and you break it down and break it down from the equipment to the buildings, it's really about people helping people. And that's exactly what Canada has been about. And that's what we're about. Trying to make it easier for the people of Canada to access health care. But in order for that to happen, we have to make sure we support our healthcare workers. We got to make sure that we are continuously looking at models of care and whether we have the right staffing ratios, the right people doing the right job, and making sure health professionals are maxing out to their skill sets. And that's something we're all focused on here at this table.

[01:18:34]And that's what will help improve our healthcare access. We've make we've taken steps in Newf Finland and Labrador. We have a huge geography with a small population. But right now in our last budget, we know we can't have a tertiary care center in every corner of our province. But if you have to travel for health care in our province outside of your region to see a specialist or to go to a tertiary care center, we're going to cover your transportation costs 100%. We're increasing the number of SKEDAC flights out of our northern communities so indigenous peop and populations can have the same access to timely access to appointments and won't miss appointments or special appointments because a flight isn't there to take them out. So, we're taking steps directly on improving that. We're also looking at a new model when it comes to nursing delivery. We've all had the experience of travel nurses and the significant costs to our systems of using that model. We're working with our nursing unions about how we change all of that. And like Alberta, we're also reaching out to make sure that nurse practitioners and others are part of that solution. So there's lots of work being done in all of our provinces and uh we need our federal government as part of that uh so that all of us together can improve that healthcare access for everybody. Thanks so much.

[01:19:51]>> I just wanted to jump in on the topic of healthcare. Um coming from uh Nunovote we have the highest per capita spend on uh health care. We have some of uh the most challenging outcomes and as was mentioned earlier it is all about people at the end of the day. It's about our children. It's about elders. It's about families. And from Nunovot's perspective, we're so thankful uh to all the incredible partners who help us take care of uh Nunovot residents. And I'd like to thank the Northwest Territories.

[01:20:28]Thank Alberta, thank Manitoba as well as Ontario who receive many of our patients who are uh accessing specialized care.

[01:20:38]Um we have a situation in Nunvot where we need more care closer to home. One of the biggest inputs to the health care system in Nunvoot isn't necessarily pharmaceuticals.

[01:20:52]It's jet fuel. We are spending tens of millions of dollars each year to send patients halfway across the country in some cases to access specialized care.

[01:21:04]So, uh, we want to change that. uh we want to build care closer to home and we need a strong partnership from the federal government that recognizes our increased spend and um so that's a message that we'll I'll be sharing with the prime minister at the first opportunity.

[01:21:27]Bill Maguire with the island farmer. I'm going to sneak in a quick question to Premier Lance. Um yesterday we saw that some general strokes from President Trump on the new tariff uh items he's going to be targeting in 20ome days or whatever. Uh there was fish, there was other energy and so on. But for PEI the key question is uh potatoes uh table potatoes, French fry potatoes. It has enormous impact on Alberta as well, Manitoba, New Brunswick. I mean a lot of provinces are heavily involved. Do you know if indeed potatoes are exempt? And uh if they're if they are not exempt, what message are you going to say to uh say island producers on what might happen say in 28 days or so? And if the answer is that you know they are exempt, well I guess to the premier's welcome to PEI and have a good vacation.

[01:22:36]Thanks, Bill. And uh we've done some prel preliminary analysis and um it uh it looks like there's about $10 million worth of exports uh to the US that would be exposed to these new tariffs. No indication that potatoes um are uh are involved in that. There would be a small um segment of agricultural products. Um I think I can't be specific about right right now but about $2.5 million in in agriculture products that might be exposed. So uh thankful for PEI that potatoes don't seem to be implicated in these in these new tariffs. But um look, I know that um uh my fellow uh premers here are um uh are probably far more exposed in other ways than we are. We've been very fortunate here in Prince Edward Island to this date um to have had little exposure to some of these tariff measures unlike um some of my my uh my colleagues here. So, we're thankful for that. We'll get uh as we'll get more details uh to the uh the agricultural community here in Prince Edward Island as we can, but initial analysis is that uh primarily potato industry is exempt.

[01:23:48]>> Hi, Cat Tunny from CBC. Um I'll direct my question at Premier Smith. I guess, but happy to hear from from anyone. Just just wanting to cast ahead to to tomorrow when you'll hear more from um the prime minister face to face. What assurances are you looking for um about his strategy over the next 28 days?

[01:24:06]>> Well, I I can tell you um much like Premier Lance, I think Alberta has not been as exposed to some of the tariffs.

[01:24:14]97% of our uh goods cross the border tariff-free. And even with this latest round, it's about 1% of our overall product that is going to be impacted.

[01:24:24]And so our our approach has has been one to say that tariffs don't help anyone.

[01:24:28]Um tariffs uh hurt Canadian consumers.

[01:24:30]They hurt American consumers whether we apply them or they apply them. And although we're at 97% tariffree, we'd like it to be 100% and we'd like every other province to to be at 100% tariffree as well. So I I think this is a window this month that we have or 28 days to uh sharpen the pencils and sharpen the focus and I I hope that we can get all of the outstanding issues on the table whether it's autos or uh steel, softwood, aluminum and some of the new issues that have been put on the table so that we can get to a comprehensive agreement. I I uh remain as uh bullish and maybe hopefully more optimistic as uh Premier Mo that that we can actually get a deal before uh the month is up. I hope it doesn't drag on into 2027, but I think that the prime minister has heard from us that we would uh we want to make sure that we get a good deal that is comprehensive and covers all of those outstanding issues.

[01:25:24]And I I think that uh I I hope that that's what he's working towards.

[01:25:29]>> That's all the time we have today. Thank you very much.

[01:25:37]Thank you for joining us.