CALVERT OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR WESTERN PREMIERS' CONFERENCE

Health care and Canada-U.S. relations are Premier Lorne Calvert's top priorities heading into this week's Western Premiers' Conference being held in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

"It is important that all First Ministers work hard to achieve a federal-provincial agreement in support of a national health care reform and sustainability agenda," Calvert said. "In my mind, the agreement should reflect a broad national consensus around health reform objectives and priorities and must include adequate and predictable long-term federal funding. It must also be respectful of the core principles of Medicare as expressed through the Canada Health Act."

Calvert, along with Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, will lead the discussion on Canada-U.S. trade relations.

The improvement of Canada-U.S. relations, especially trade, is likely to remain Canada's, and western premiers', first foreign policy priority. The West now has an opportunity to collaborate with the federal government on the design and delivery of that agenda.

"In view of the current bilateral trade disputes affecting our interests – BSE, wheat, hogs, softwood lumber – I will be recommending to Premiers that we send a strong message to Ottawa to make the resolution of these problems a key priority on any future bilateral agenda," Calvert said.

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