Premiers plan trade mission to China

Canada's provincial and territorial leaders will launch a joint trade mission to China with the federal government within one year, they announced on the final day of their annual summer gathering held in Vancouver this year.

The trip will be part of a strategy called Canada in the Global Economy. The leaders also agreed on a trade agenda that will focus on U.S., European Union, Asian and emerging markets.

But as the end of the three-day gathering nears, the provincial and territorial leaders have given little indication of a united front on any issues other than their economic aspirations.

Closed-door discussions during the three-day conference have included aboriginal issues, health care, federal transfer payments and trade with Asia.

But Quebec Premier Jean Charest was not in attendance because of his daughter's wedding this weekend and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty left early to deal with raging forest fires back home, but not before making veiled suggestions his province is being treated unfairly on energy projects in comparison to western provinces.

In years' past, the group has come together to present a united front on key issues, particularly regarding provincial relations with the federal government. But with little agreement on priorities at this year's meeting, it appears unlikely there will be a meaningful breakthrough on any major issues.

The meeting wraps up with a meeting with Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire and Canada's ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer.

Trade with China in the spotlight

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach came into the annual gathering determined to put China and its burgeoning marketplace at the top of the agenda.

The B.C. premier said Asia has the fastest growing middle class, and 20 years from now it will account for 60 per cent of the world's middle class.

"From coast to coast, it is Asia Pacific that is the future of Canada," Clark said. "If we can focus on Asia Pacific, we can ... enable the creation of thousands of thousands of jobs all across this country. We all talk about families — well, families need jobs."

Clark said Canada does not have a single trade agreement with any Asian country, and that needs to change.

She added that the premiers want Ottawa to give them the power to control the number of skilled foreign workers allowed into Canada. Clark said provinces need to be able to resolve their own human resources needs.

Clark said while the premiers didn't discuss human rights specifically, she believes Chinese human rights will improve as the Asian nation engages Western countries in trade.

"One of the advantages of being engaged in the economy of another country is often that engagement and exposure will lead to improved human rights," she said.

"I mean it's something we always have to be aware of, something we always have to be thinking about."

Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz agreed with Clark, saying human rights will improve as countries open up globally.

He said he raised human-rights issues during a recent trade mission to China. But Ghiz said Canada is not perfect and must raise such issues politely.

Ghiz also elaborated on what the provinces can do to improve trade with China.

"From our perspective, direct flights out of Toronto would definitely help with us," he said, adding that he realizes his island will not get that service.

Ghiz noted the Chinese are interested in his province's agricultural sector and on products like lobsters, oysters and mussels.

National disaster program

Canada's premiers and territorial leaders also say they will ask their ministers to work with the federal government on a new national disaster program.

The provincial leaders say the program should raise funds and develop mitigation strategies for fires, earthquakes, storms and floods, as well as infrastructure issues.

The leaders ended their annual gathering by saying they hope the federal government can develop the program by this fall.

The request comes after Premier Dalton McGuinty had to leave the gathering early  to deal with wildfires that forced the evacuation of thousands of residents in northwestern Ontario.

Already this year Alberta has had to contend with a wildfire that devastated the town of Slave Lake and Manitoba has seen some of the worst flooding on record.

McGuinty said he's led three separate trade missions to China and countries like Canada need feet on the ground if they want to be included in trade.

"You've got to be there in order to assert yourself," he said. "There's an endless stream of visitors from around the world going to places like China, looking to secure greater economic ties. So we've got to be on the ground."

McGuinty made veiled suggestions his province was being treated unfairly on energy projects, but didn't elaborate before leaving early to tend to the forest fire situation in his province.