Asian trade key to economic recovery: Western premiers

By Philip Ling, Canwest News ServiceJune 19,

The participants in the 2009 Western Preimiers’ Conference in Dawson City, Yukon. From left, Premier Gary Doer of Manitoba, Premier Gordon Campbell of British Columbia, Premier Dennis Fentie of Yukon, Premier Ed Stelmach of Alberta, Premier Brad Wall of Saskatchewan and Premier Floyd Roland of the Northwest Territories.Photograph by: Handout, Government of YukonOne of the keys to Canada’s recovery from the current economic crisis will be to expand trade in Asian markets, rather than focusing solely on the United States, the premiers of this country’s western provinces and territories say.

“Canada often doesn’t think of (itself) as a Pacific country — but we are. And it’s a huge advantage as we move to the 21st century,” B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said Friday at the closing news conference of the three-day Western Premiers Conference in Dawson City, Yukon.

“The Americans are a critical component of what our economic future is, but actually expanding our economy into Asia will be really important.”

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach agreed.

“The close proximity to the Asian markets will be the future market for Western Canada. We do a lot of business with the United States, but we can’t depend on just one trading partner,” said Stelmach. “We have a new opportunity to build a new economy — an economy that will lead Canada out of this economic recession.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, however, reminded his counterparts that they must continue to recognize the importance of the United States to the Canadian economy.

“This is not just a trading relationship; it is a supply-chain relationship in the continent,” Wall said.

The conference — attended by premiers from Canada’s four western provinces and two of the three territories — wrapped up Friday, also with an agreement to push for an employment-insurance system using “a principled approach” that will make it “fair for all Canadians.”

“When you think . . . of the billions of dollars going into a couple of automobile companies, surely we can find ways and resources that we can support Canada’s workers across the country,” Campbell said.

The overhaul proposed by the western and northern premiers would establish national standards for workers seeking to collect EI benefits.

The premiers contend the number of hours workers must put in before qualifying for benefits should be set according to three national categories that describe where the workers live: urban, rural or remote areas.

The three standards would replace the current requirements of between 420 and 700 hours — depending on which of 58 separate EI regions applicants live in.

“We have to think of our country as one country,” said Campbell said. “I can’t understand a reason why it takes more hours to work in Vancouver than it does in Toronto to be eligible for EI.”

The six premiers emphasized training as a “critical component” of the strategy to create support for workers while they’re unemployed.

“An EI system should . . . emphasize training or re-training to put Canadians to work, so they’re not dependent upon employment insurance,” Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie said.

Campbell said their approach is different than the re-training plan now in place in Ontario. Instead of helping workers left jobless find new careers in other “in-demand” fields, the western premiers hope to train workers in their own industries.

“We are not saying to our forest workers — in British Columbia’s perspective — to ‘Train yourself to another job.’ We actually think the forest industry will be back, because we need it. Wood products are going to be needed, and our agriculture workers are going to be needed,” Campbell said.

“There will be changes to the economy, for sure, but this creates the kind of stability — rather than the downward social spiral — that maintains some stability.”

The premiers also reached an agreement, in principle, in the area of joint purchasing of pharmaceuticals, and agreed to the importance of partnering with aboriginal governments. They also agreed to improve information-sharing and co-ordination among provinces and territories to curb gang activity.

The Western Premiers Conference will be held next year in British Columbia.