First Nations issues, energy delivery, and infrastructure and health-care funding are a few of the issues expected to dominate the discussions as Canada鈥檚 premiers gather for their semi-annual summit.

The Council of the Federation gathering -- where Canada鈥檚 premiers discuss critical issues facing provincial and territorial governments -- starts Wednesday in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., and ends with a closing news conference on Friday.

Here鈥檚 a look at some of the issues that will be discussed during this year鈥檚 summer meeting:

First Nations

First Nations leaders are set to meet with the premiers on Wednesday to help kick off the summit.

First Nations leaders will discuss ongoing issues affecting First Nations communities that they feel need to be brought to the attention of provincial and territorial leaders, and are expected to focus on aboriginal education.

Infrastructure

After flooding this year in Alberta, Manitoba and Toronto, coupled with the Lac-Megantic train disaster, there鈥檚 no doubt that infrastructure will be a central topic.

Ottawa has a fund in place to help respond to disasters, but some premiers say they need sustainable infrastructure funding, not disaster relief.

"We actually have to put in place infrastructure and mitigation which should be funded by the federal government -- as it has been up until now on an ad hoc basis -- to make sure we're preventing these disasters where possible," Alberta Premier Alison Redford told The Canadian Press.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has previously indicated that she鈥檒l be pushing for sustainable funding from Ottawa for infrastructure projects and improvements.

鈥淚t's about ports, it's about roads, it's about bridges," said Wynne, who is chairing the meeting. "There's infrastructure across the country that we need to make sure is in good shape and that we need to enhance, given the current realities."

Health care

Health care will be a major issue, as this is the last premiers鈥� meeting before the 2014 expiration of the Health Accord -- the legislation that sets the terms for health-care funding between the federal and provincial government.

The Ontario Health Coalition and the Canadian Union of Public Employees are urging the premiers to push the federal government for improved and stable health-care funding.

The OHC issued a statement warning of future federal funding cuts and their effects on the public Medicare system.

CUPE President Paul Moist said in a statement that the federal government must negotiate a new 10-year Health Accord with 鈥渟table and adequate funding鈥� and a minimum six per cent escalator.

At the meeting, the premiers are expected to discuss health-care delivery options and the efficacy of current health-care delivery guidelines.

Jobs and skills training

Planned changes to the way Ottawa funds job-training programs is also likely to come up.

The federal government plans to change the way they contribute to training programs by diverting some of money earmarked for the provinces to the Canada Job Grant instead.

Under the new funding terms -- which are set to be negotiated this summer and in the fall -- the provinces and employers are each responsible to contribute one-third.

Wynne wants to negotiate the terms, but other premiers have said they鈥檇 prefer to opt out with full compensation instead.

Energy

The premiers are expected to discuss a national energy strategy to help make energy delivery across the country more sustainable and efficient.

The $7.7-billion Muskrat Falls hydro project, as well as safe energy transportation and transmission, are also expected come up.

With files from CP24鈥檚 Katie Simpson and The Canadian Press