Atlantic Premiers Convene 23rd Summit Of Regional Affairs

On the evening of February 20th, 2023, the Council of Atlantic Premiers met to discuss important regional and national issues, as well as chart a course for regional collaboration in 2023. The meeting was chaired by Premier Dennis King of Prince Edward Island and attended by Premier Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick, Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia, and Premier Andrew Furey of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Council of Atlantic Premiers was formed in 2000 as a means of fostering regional collaboration among the provinces of Atlantic Canada. The council is composed of the Premier of each province and serves as a forum for the discussion of regional issues, the development of joint initiatives, and the promotion of regional interests.

The council has a number of standing committees that focus on specific issues of importance to the region, such as economic development, education, and health. These committees are composed of officials from each of the provinces and work to identify common priorities and develop joint initiatives to address them.

At the meeting on February 20th, the premiers discussed a range of issues of importance to the region, including health, immigration, labour, and housing. One of the key priorities identified by the premiers was the need to improve access to healthcare services for residents of the region. This includes improving access to mental health services and addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in the region.

The premiers also discussed the need to attract and retain skilled workers in the region, particularly in the areas of technology and innovation. This includes developing strategies to encourage immigration to the region and working to address barriers to labour mobility within Canada.

In addition, the premiers discussed the need to address the issue of affordable housing in the region. This includes working to increase the supply of affordable housing and developing policies to address homelessness and housing insecurity.

Overall, the meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers served as an important forum for the discussion of issues of regional and national importance. The premiers identified a number of key priorities for the region in 2023 and committed to working together to address these issues and promote the interests of Atlantic Canada.