Related Links:
See the Canadian Social Research Links Medicare Debate Links page

From the Council of the Federation:

Successful Fifth Annual Summer Meeting for the Council of the Federation (PDF - 65K, 3 pages)
Québec City, July 18, 2008 – Premiers concluded the fifth annual meeting of the Council of the Federation. “This meeting gave us the opportunity to make progress on major issues affecting all of our citizens, including labour mobility, internal and external trade, and the environment while also celebrating together the 400th anniversary of Québec City,” declared Jean Charest, Premier of Québec.
NOTE : includes links to four more news releases from the meeting.

Premiers’ Meeting to Focus on Labour Mobility and Climate Change (PDF - 44K, 1 page)
July 11, 2008 – Premiers from all 13 Canadian provinces and territories will be in Québec City from July 16 to 18 for the 2008 Council of the Federation summer meeting.

Source:
Council of the Federation
The Council of the Federation was created by provincial-territorial Premiers because they believe it is important for provinces and territories to play a leadership role in revitalizing the Canadian federation and building a more constructive and cooperative federal system.

Related links:

It will take a nation to lift a generation out of poverty
Premiers need to put plight of poor children on their sustainability agenda this week
By Laurel Rothman, Phil Fontaine and Vera Pawis Tabobondung
July 16, 2008
We are writing to urge the country's premiers to make poverty reduction central to their discussions in Quebec City this week on environmental and economic sustainability.Canada's ongoing success relies upon a healthy population that can sustain itself and flourish. Our premiers are in a strong position to ensure that all of our young people thrive, not merely survive. The premiers, with their federal counterparts, need to use their individual and collective positions to ensure that no child or family suffers the debilitating effects of poverty.
Source:
The Toronto Star

Council of the Federation Website
[ Conseil de la fédération - version française ]
Official website of the Premiers' Council of the Federation
"On December 5, 2003, Canada’s Premiers proudly announced in Charlottetown the creation of the Council of the Federation. It is a new institution for a new era in collaborative intergovernmental relations. The Council of the Federation was created by Premiers because they believe it is important for provinces and territories to play a leadership role in revitalizing the Canadian federation and building a more constructive and cooperative federal system.The Council of the Federation’s objectives are to:
* Promote interprovincial-territorial cooperation and closer ties between members of the Council, to ultimately strengthen Canada;
* Foster meaningful relations between governments based on respect for the Constitution and recognition of the diversity within the federation;
* Show leadership on issues important to all Canadians."
- incl. links to : About the Council - Meetings - Key Initiatives and Workplan - Newsroom - Contact Us - Useful Links

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Communiqué (PDF file - 75K, 6 pages)
BANFF, August 12, 2005
"The Council of the Federation concluded its meeting today in Banff, Alberta, as Premiers agreed to take historic steps towards strengthening Canada’s social and economic fabric. The Council of the Federation today unveiled several additional key initiatives including priorities in the areas of skills training and post-secondary education, pharmaceuticals, prevention and treatment of drug addiction, and fiscal imbalance."

Communiqué (PDF file - 69K, 6 pages)
BANFF, August 11, 2005
"The Council of the Federation met today in Banff, Alberta in celebration of Alberta’s Centennial. Premiers unveiled the first components of their comprehensive strategies to enhance the overall competitiveness and prosperity of Canada. The Council of the Federation’s priorities for strengthening Canada include transportation and infrastructure development, energy and trade. Premiers also met with U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins to discuss Canada – U.S. relations."

Council of the Federation Summer 2005 meeting - from the Alberta Premier's website

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From Canada.com:

Premiers calling for fall summit
Canadian Press
August 13, 2005
"BANFF, Alta. -- Canada's premiers are calling for a first ministers conference this fall and an immediate infusion of federal cash for post-secondary education and skills training to prepare the 21st century workforce. At the conclusion of three days of meetings, the provincial and territorial leaders called on Ottawa to restore $2.2 billion cut in 1995 as the first step in a new productivity strategy."

Full Premiers' Conference Coverage

Constructive and Co-operative Federalism?: A Series of Commentaries on the Council of the Federation
On December 5, 2003 the provincial premiers gathered in Charlottetown to finalize the mandate and structure for the Council of the Federation, a new mechanism designed to improve intergovernmental relations. In order to explore the new Council, the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations (IIGR) at Queen's University and the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Montreal have published a series of essays by leading experts on federalism and public policy. The papers are intended for journalists, policy-makers and the public.
[Click on the link above to access any of the papers in the list below; only the first two have live links]
* Overview (PDf file - 121K, 3 pages) - October 15, 2003
* A Short Path to Revitalized Federalism - by Tom Kent (January 2004) - PDF file - 118K, 5 pages)
* Counsel for Canadian Federalism: Aboriginal Governments and the Council of the Federation - by Frances Abele and Michael J. Prince (November 2003)
* Some Personal Reflections on the Council of the Federation - Bob Rae (November 2003)
* Getting Things Done in the Federation: Do We Need New Rules for an Old Game? - by Douglas M. Brown (October 2003)
* The Council of the Federation: From a Defensive to a Partnership Approach - by André Burelle (October 2003)
* The Council of the Federation: Conflict and Complementarity with Canada's Democratic Reform Agenda - by Roger Gibbins (October 2003)
* Managing Interdependencies in the Canadian Federation: Lessons from the Social Union Framework Agreement - by Harvey Lazar (October 2003)
* The Health Council of Canada Proposal in light of the Council of the Federation: A Test of Constructive Intergovernmental Relations? - by Greg Marchildon (October 2003)
* Council of the Federation: An Idea Whose Time has Come - by J. Peter Meekison (October 2003)
* The End of a Model? Quebec and the Council of the Federation - by Alain Noël (October 2003)
* Quebec and Interprovincial Discussion and Consultation - by Claude Ryan (October 2003)
* Expanding the Partnership: The Proposed Council of the Federation and the Challenge of Glocalization - by Hamish Telford (October 2003)
* Intergovernmental Councils in Federations - by Ronald L. Watts (October 2003)
Source:
Canadian Network of Federalism Studies
Institute of Intergovernmental Relations [IIR] (Queen's University)
Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)

Council of the Federation Series
October 15, 2003
"As part of a joint initiative with the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Montreal, the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations is launching a series of twelve commentaries on the Council of the Federation. The series title is “Constructive and Co - operative Federalism? A Series of Commentaries on the Council of the Federation”. The papers, prepared by leading federalism and public policy experts across Canada, can be downloaded in PDF format."

2003 Special Series on the Council of the Federation - on this page, you'll find links to the following reports:
- Getting Things Done in the Federation: Do We Need New Rules for an Old Game?
- The End of a Model? Quebec and the Council of the Federation Alain Noël
- Counsel for Canadian Federalism: Aboriginal Governments and the Council of the Federation
- Some Personal Reflections on the Council of the Federation Bob Rae
- A Convention on the Canadian Economic and Social Systems
- Council of the Federation Founding Agreement Provincial and Territorial Premiers
- Intergovernmental Councils in Federations
- The Council of the Federation: From a Defensive to a Partnership Approach
- Expanding the Partnership: The Proposed Council of the Federation and the Challenge of Glocalization
- Managing Interdependencies in the Canadian Federation: Lessons from the Social Union Framework Agreement
- The Council of the Federation: Conflict and Complementarity with Canada’s Democratic Reform Agenda
- Quebec and Interprovincial Discussion and Consultation
- The Health Council of Canada Proposal in light of the Council of the Federation
- Council of the Federation: An Idea Whose Time has Come
Source:
Canadian Network of Federalism Studies
Institute of Intergovernmental Relations [IIR] (Queen's University)
Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)

Related Links:

Provinces plan 'historic' change to federation
July 11, 2003
Source: CBC

More info about the Council of the Federation
(Excerpt)"The new Council of the Federation will provide leadership in tackling the issues that matter to Canadians and are crucial to the future of their country. It will comprise the 13 Premiers, who will meet on a regular basis. The first meeting will be held on October 24, 2003, in Quebec City."
Source:
Premiers announce plan to build a new era of constructive and cooperative federalism (July 10, 2003)
Press Release from the 44th Annual Premiers' Conference (July 9-11, 2003)
Home Government (PEI) News Release
"The five point plan includes:
- Agreement in principle to create a Council of the Federation [bolding added]
- Annual First Ministers’ Meetings
- Provincial/Territorial consultation on federal appointments
- Devolution of powers to the territories
- Establishment of federal provincial territorial protocols of conduct."
[ Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat ]