The Council of the Federation, essentially the provincial premiers meeting as they always have, is trying to fend off
criticism that its one day meeting in Toronto on energy and climate change was nothing more than an exercise in optics.
“I’ve got to say — to say that this is a photo-op, I have some trouble with that. I actually find the comment offensive,” said the meeting’s chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, when asked if the meeting was seen as a chance for the leaders to bolster their green images.
“If we wanted a photo-op we would be here in front of all the flags all together and smiling. I’m here today to indicate that the premiers are extremely concerned about this problem [climate change], they share that concern with the federal government and with the people of Canada, and we want to find solution.”
According to Williams, [Photo, right: CP, Adrian Wyld] this year's chair of the Council, the meeting served as an "awakening" and gave first ministers the chance to review a 30 page document on best practices to see what each province is doing to deal with climate change.
But as with Equalization, the premiers seem to have found some difficulty achieving any concensus except on the need for further talks. As the
National Post reports, the premiers did not issue a climate change action plan as the federal government has done.
Instead, the premiers will work to develop a common energy and energy efficiency strategy, according to
ctv.ca. Provinces will likely move individually in the absence of any consensus on a
collective approach."We're not developing a climate-change plan here," Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, who chaired the one-day session, said after the talks ended.
"What we're doing as a group of premiers is to try to make a contribution; to try to solve problems; to try to contribute to the national debate on what works and what doesn't work.
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Update: Two things. First, the picture is a new one of the Premier looking grumpy. Take as a n article of faith that every news shooter in the country will be looking for what will become the stock "Danny is grumpy" shot to illustrate future stories when...well...Danny is grumpy.
Second, the Globe story in the morning edition is headed "
Climate change divides premiers". The lede sums up the problem for the Premiers:
Canada's premiers emerged divided yesterday over how to tackle climate change, with the leaders of British Columbia and Quebec pushing for a North American solution, Ontario pitching a plan that would be national in scope and Alberta rejecting both proposals.
Ok.
Well, realistically, how is that headline different from any headline ever written about any meeting of the Council of the Federation, let alone its predecessor meetings of premiers?
What
doesn't divide the Premiers?
They can't even agree on how much money the federal government should give to the provinces through transfers like Equalization.
