Council of the Federation

The Council of the Federation (COF; Template:Langx) is a multilateral congress composed of the premiers of each of Canada's 13 provinces and territories, which meets at least twice annually.

Its main function is to promote interprovincial-territorial cooperation, collaborate on shared governmental priorities, and ultimately provide a united front amongst the provincial and territorial governments when interacting with Canada's federal government. It also promotes "constructive Confederation", working for Canadian unity, and recognizing differences amongst the various provinces and territories within Canada's federal system of government.

The council meets at least twice a year, with an annual summer conference held in the jurisdiction of the Chair, which rotates annually between premiers; and at least one other meeting at a location determined by the Council. The Council also meets via teleconference periodically throughout the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The idea for a body akin to the Council of the Federation had long been present, but suggestions did not come to fruition until after Quebec premier Jean Charest raised the concept again during preparation for negotiations with the federal government. The idea was for the first time embraced by all the premiers and the council was formed, its foundation being announced on December 5, 2003, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This location was significant because Charlottetown was, in 1864, the venue for the Charlottetown Conference (the first step towards Canadian Confederation).

The first test of the council's united front occurred between September 13 and 16, 2004, when the premiers met with Prime Minister Paul Martin to discuss reforms to Canada's universal healthcare program. The premiers remained united and in the end won $41 billion of federal funding for healthcare over the next ten years.

The 2008 meetings of the council took place in Quebec City, which was celebrating its 400th anniversary as a settlement. At the meeting all premiers agreed to amendments to the Agreement on Internal Trade to create greater labour mobility between the provinces and territories, which came into force on January 1, 2009.

The 2009 meetings of the council took place in Regina, Saskatchewan. The agenda was dominated by economic matters including trade issues with the United States and formulating a post-recession interprovincial economic strategy.

On February 20, 2010, the council met with their American counterpart, the National Governors Association, in Washington, D.C., for an hour-long session entitled "Common Border, Common Ground" to talk about issues such as environment and trade. Also attending this meeting were Lisa P. Jackson, of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Larry Summers, U.S. president Barack Obama's economic advisor. The Canadian premiers commented on how much more open the Obama administration was to confronting and solving problems, compared to his predecessor, George W. Bush.<ref>Premiers meet U.S. governors in Washington, The Canadian Press, February 20, 2010</ref>

Chairs of the Council of the Federation

Chair		Province/territory	Term start	Term end	Party
Template:Canadian party colour |	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagdeco Prince Edward Island	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	incumbent	Template:Canadian party colour
Template:Canadian party colour |	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagdeco Ontario	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>	Template:Dts	Template:Canadian party colour
Template:Canadian party colour |	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagdeco Nova Scotia	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Dts	Template:Canadian party colour
Template:Canadian party colour |	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagdeco Manitoba	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Dts	Template:Canadian party colour
Template:Canadian party colour |	Template:Sortname	Template:Flagdeco British Columbia	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Dts	Template:Canadian party colour

Issues

• Healthcare funding and innovation
• Economic development (especially in the wake of the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis)
• Strengthening Confederation (working for provincial input into the selection of senators and Supreme Court justices)
• Reaching out to young Canadians, getting them involved in the political process
• Helping those affected by emergencies
• Inter-provincial/territorial trade
• Water

Members

First minister		Jurisdiction	Party		Notes
Provinces – Provincial premiers
Template:HsFile:Doug Ford at Building Faster Fund announcement 2024-03-22 02 (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Ontario	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsProgressive Conservative
Template:HsFile:François Legault (2024; cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Quebec	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsCoalition Avenir Québec
Template:Hs File:TimHouston.png	Template:Sortname	Nova Scotia	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsProgressive Conservative
Template:HsFile:Susan Holt Quispamsis 2024.jpg	Template:Sortname	New Brunswick	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsLiberal
Template:HsFile:Wab Kinew in Sept 2024 (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Manitoba	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsNew Democratic
Template:HsFile:David Eby - 2022 (52507022370) (cropped).png	Template:Sortname	British Columbia	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsNew Democratic
Template:HsFile:RobLantz2015.jpg	Template:Sortname	Prince Edward Island	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsProgressive Conservative	Current chair
Template:HsFile:Scott Moe at US EPA (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Saskatchewan	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsSaskatchewan
Template:HsFile:Danielle Smith 2014.jpg	Template:Sortname	Alberta	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsUnited Conservative
Template:Hs	Template:Sortname	Newfoundland and Labrador	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsProgressive Conservative
Territories – Territorial premiers
Template:Hs	Template:Sortname	Northwest Territories	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsN/A (consensus government)	Current vice-chair
Template:Hs	Template:Sortname	Yukon	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsYukon Party
Template:Hs	Template:Sortname	Nunavut	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour; width: 16px"|	Template:HsN/A (consensus government)

Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• First Ministers' conference
• Politics of Canada
• Political culture of Canada
• National Cabinet, a similar body in Australia
• National Governors Association

External links

• The Council of the Federation
• CBC News: Provinces plan 'historic' change to federation
• Maple Leaf Web: Council of the Federation