Redford meets with Quebec Premier Jean Charest

Premier Alison Redford was in Quebec Wednesday to meet with Premier Jean Charest in advance of the Council of the Federation meeting next week in Victoria.

At a joint news conference in Quebec City, Charest said he and Redford want to strengthen ties between the two provinces.

"We have decided that we want this relationship now to move to a new level," Charest said.

"And I have been very impressed by Alison's views on the role that Alberta wants to play nationally, on issues like energy and economic development for the country and I'm absolutely delighted to accept her invitation that we work together."

Canada's premiers plan to discuss federal health-care transfers at next week's meeting and both Charest and Redford said they aren't happy with how Ottawa has dealt with the issue.

"We believe that it is important for all Canadians to be treated equally per capita," Redford said. "We don't believe that in order to achieve that, any particular province needs to lose out.

"It's important for us, and we are pleased, that the federal government has now come to the table, and agreed to that principle."

Redford has been vocal about her desire for the provinces to collaborate on what she calls a "Canadian" energy strategy. Charest said the provinces don't need the federal government to set up such a strategy, because they are working together already.

The two premiers have known each other for a number of years, ever since Charest was a cabinet minister and Redford was a staff member under former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney