PREMIER MAKES STRONG CASE FOR SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan to Host National Housing Conference

Premier Brad Wall pressed Saskatchewan's position on many priorities including the environment, labour mobility and housing at last week's Council of the Federation meetings in Quebec City.

"All premiers agree that the environment is a priority," Wall said. "And I am happy to see that the rest of the country has heard that Saskatchewan is taking action now. We continue to lead internationally on clean coal and carbon sequestration."

At the conference Wall stated Saskatchewan's position that the province will not support inter-jurisdictional environmental schemes that will simply increase energy costs for Saskatchewan families and businesses, and transfer wealth and jobs from Saskatchewan to central Canada with no clear environmental benefits.

"We are offering 'cap and cut' where we continue to invest in technologies right here at home," Wall said. "Because of what Saskatchewan is already doing with carbon capture and storage (CCS) through Apache at Midale and EnCana at Weyburn, Canada can claim international leadership in CCS technology that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has recognized as an important element in international environmental efforts."

Premier Wall also worked with other premiers to address Saskatchewan's labour shortage. All Premiers agreed to implement regulations that will recognize credentials earned in other provinces and territories. The "one step" accreditation will assist at least 30 different professions and trades by the spring of 2009, making it easier for qualified workers to move from province to province.

"This agreement is just common sense, and will help us address Saskatchewan's labour shortage," Wall said. "But another important step is ensuring our First Nations and Metis become a much stronger part of our province's workforce."

Progress was made on the matter of internal trade barriers in Canada with all Premiers committing to continued efforts to reduce barriers between provinces.

The Premiers also discussed housing challenges faced in all jurisdictions. The Premiers agree on the importance of renewing several cost sharing agreements and federal supports for housing. Building on the recent Saskatchewan Task Force on Affordable Housing, Premier Wall agreed to host a Federal/Provincial conference on housing to be organized for the fall.

Saskatchewan is the Vice-Chair of the Council of the Federation and will host the summer meeting in 2009.

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927