Climate change, energy and trade will be the focus of the annual premiers' meeting of Canada, which begins today in Moncton, N.B.
The leaders of each of the country's 10 provinces and three territories are going to bring forward their aggressive strategy to deal with climate change.
"We want to work co-operatively together, we want to share best practices and we want to look at ways that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions," New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.
"I'm sure a number of issues will be put on the table where we will be able to achieve consensus."
A number of initiatives have been put into place so the conference will have a minimal impact on the environment.
These include:
- The use of water coolers and reusable water bottles;
- Using overhead projectors and other methods to reduce paper use;
- Serving only local food; and
- Prohibiting vehicles to idle.
Premiers and volunteers will also plant 900 trees after the three-day event to offset the carbon impact of the conference.
"We're not only going to talk the talk, we're going to walk the walk," Graham said.
Representatives of environmental groups will be in New Brunswick for the meeting, lobbying the premiers to fill the void they say has been created by the federal government.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, meanwhile, has already warned his colleagues not to gang up on him about hard caps and tight deadlines for emission controls. He said "Alberta's boom is Canada's boom."
Stelmach says any movement toward a system of hard caps on greenhouse-gas emissions or a cross-Canada trading market for pollution credits likely would cost too much in money and jobs.
The premier also says Alberta is ahead of other provinces in moving on climate change. He challenged other premiers to do more than just outline plans.
In the past few months, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia have joined Quebec and Manitoba in establishing emission targets to get their emissions below 1990 levels within five to 12 years -- a goal the federal government has said is impossible to achieve on a national level.
Premiers will also discuss energy issues such as security of supply, regulatory efficiency, conservation and energy transportation.
Finally, the leaders will talk about initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of the Canadian economy.
Graham said this is the first Council of the Federation meeting that "will unite us, rather than divide us." He noted past conferences centred around equalization or health care funding.
"There are going to be differences of opinion ... but there's an increasing level of respect and maturity of the council that's occurring, and that's good news for all Canadians today," Graham said.
With files from The Canadian Press
