The premiers of the thirteen Canadian provinces and territories have created a Council of the Federation as a new mechanism in federal-provincial relations. In the founding agreement of the Council of the Federation, the premiers said they hoped to play a leadership role and build a more constructive and co-operative federal system in Canada.
The Council of the Federation plans to meet at least twice a year. Their first meeting was held in British Columbia at the end of February 2004. The premiers will rotate chairmanship of the Council for one-year terms. The Council of the Federation secretariat is based in Ottawa.
The premiers plan for the Council to work on issues where they can have an impact by working together.
The premiers plan to put the initial focus of the Council of the Federation on:
- health care reform and sustainability
- economic issues, including internal trade, labour mobility, and harmonizing and streamlining regulation.
