Re: Meeting of First Ministers, January 2008
Dear Prime Minister,
Canada is a modern and diverse federation. As a country, we face many multi-layered issues and challenges that need to be addressed. As in the past, it is careful collaboration and strong partnerships that will allow Canada to seize these challenges as opportunities so that we can build on past successes.
In my opinion, there is no substitute for regular, formal, in-person meetings of Canada’s First Ministers. Unfortunately, a short dinner meeting two years into your mandate does not demonstrate open federalism and will not provide for the sincere consultation necessary to address the crucial issues faced by our country. It is lamentable that you have not made it a practice of your government to hold meetings with your provincial and territorial counterparts more frequently and with more formal agendas, something that has long been proposed to be entrenched as a constitutional requirement.
As we begin 2008, there is no shortage of issues that need to be discussed constructively by First Ministers. In too many areas the country is heading in the wrong direction and is failing to build for the future. Hard-working Canadian families are demanding leadership and fairness. I have identified below some of the pressing issues that should be discussed by First Ministers.
The Economy and the Prosperity Gap
Some sectors and regions, particularly oil and gas producers, have benefited from prosperous circumstances recently. At the same time, many sectors, many working people, and many Canadian communities are being left further behind and are not benefiting from this newfound prosperity. In Ontario and Quebec, over 250,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in recent years. The forestry sector, from B.C. to Nova Scotia, is also struggling and desperately needs support. Good quality, long-term jobs that support working families are being replaced with lower-paying jobs with less security and fewer benefits. Furthermore, workers in the sectors which are facing these crises are faced with the fact that recent federal governments have made it more difficult for them to qualify for employment insurance.
Many of the challenges stem from the sharp and accelerated rise in the value of the Canadian dollar, driven in large part by the unsustainable boom in the oil and gas sector. Recent federal actions, like the October mini-budget’s corporate tax breaks, have exacerbated this situation by further stimulating the profitable oil and gas sector (and, in turn, the value of the dollar), while struggling companies in the manufacturing and forestry sectors see no benefit. This reckless and short-sighted approach to corporate tax cutting must end.
Infrastructure
Canada’s growing infrastructure deficit has been well-documented in recent years, in particular by the Conference Board of Canada. Provincial, territorial and municipal leaders are all keenly aware of the impact of this deficit in their communities and are demanding stable investments that will build and maintain economic prosperity into the future. At a time of relative budgetary prosperity, the first order of busineess should be re-investment rather than more massive corporate tax breaks. For example, now is the time for bold new public transit initiatives that place Canada among world leaders in the transition to the new energy economy. I would expect that you would find agreement from Premiers on this.
Climate Change
Premiers have been discussing climate change action in their recent Council of the Federation meetings and many of them have adopted ambitious and comprehensive plans. Coming out of the United Nations meeting on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, this is a good time to update the premiers on international negotiations towards a post-2012 framework, and to canvass premiers’ views on better ways of working together to achieve the deep greenhouse gas emissions reductions that science shows are required.
Canada’s record of failure is beyond dispute. But, that cannot be an excuse for failing to redouble efforts in the next phase of greenhouse gas reductions. National leadership and constructive engagement with provincial and territorial partners is desperately required.
Issues of federalism and federal institutions
Several of your government’s initiatives in respect to federalism and federal institutions have not been well-received as a result of the lack of consultation preceding their unveiling (eg, Senate reform initiatives, the flawed seat redistribution bill, and the federal spending power initiative). While the federal government has the authority to act in these areas, successful action in a federation means respect for federal partners and collaborating in good faith to work towards a consensual result. In dealing with the issue of the Senate, for example, no attempt has been made to accommodate those premiers who have indicated they prefer abolition over any inadequate reform proposal.
I encourage you to use this opportunity, before the House returns, to consider any of these matters, to have a full and frank discussion among premiers about their preferences for ways of moving forward. I am confident that, as in the past, First Ministers will conduct themselves with a view to fairness and respect for the founding principles of our federation.
I wish you a constructive meeting with your provincial counterparts and look forward to hearing of the results of your discussions. I hope that this is the first in a more regular series of such meetings.
Sincerely yours,
Jack Layton,
Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada
