OTTAWA -- Efforts by the provinces and territories to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be a top item of discussion at Friday's premiers meeting, says Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Wynne and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, meeting on the eve of the gathering, accused the federal government of an absence of leadership that has all but forced the provinces and territories to tackle carbon-pricing and climate change on their own.
Wynne says they're attempting to do so through the so-called Canadian Energy Strategy, an initiative involving all 13 provinces and territories focused on climate change and clean energy.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is to update his counterparts about the initiative at the Council of the Federation meeting, being held just a few blocks from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office.
Harper has been invited to attend, but is skipping it again, much to the chagrin of Wynne, who issued a personal invitation to him earlier this month.
At a news conference with Wynne, Trudeau denied suggestions that he recently argued the provinces and territories should grapple with climate change on their own.
"Indeed, I am encouraged that over the past nine years of lack of leadership and inaction from the federal government, provinces are stepping forward with solutions to price carbon and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," he said.
"But that doesn't absolve the federal government from needing to step up and take a very clear leadership role to demonstrate to the world that Canada is serious about taking on its responsibilities in terms of addressing and attacking climate change."
Wynne agreed, saying the provinces should do what they can, but the federal government must take a stand on the world stage.
New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant said he's hoping the provinces and territories will agree to co-operate on energy projects, in particular TransCanada's Energy East pipeline.
"There's no doubt as a nation we have to do a better job on climate change," the Liberal premier told his own news conference on Thursday.
"On top of that, we also have to have a conversation about developing our economy throughout the country in a responsible way. We believe the Energy East pipeline is one that will help us grow our economy, create jobs; it's one we that we can do, we believe, in a sustainable way."
The $12-billion pipeline would give western oil producers access to a deep-water port on the Bay of Fundy. Environmentalists have mounted a spirited campaign against the project.
The Council of the Federation meets twice a year, summer and winter. Friday's meeting, hosted by P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz, is focused largely on the economy and sliding oil prices.
But Dr. Chris Simpson, head of the Canadian Medical Association, said he was delighted to hear that a national seniors' strategy is also high on the agenda.
"It becomes a really easy and compelling political agenda item, because doing the right thing for seniors happens to be something that we have to do for the sake of the economy," he said in an interview.
Simpson also expressed disappointment that Harper won't be at the meeting.
"The federal government has taken the stance that national issues like this are to be devolved to the provincial premiers, but I think health care is one of those things that is a truly nation-building issue," he said.
"It really doesn't make sense to have 14 different systems of health care that are functioning completely independently of each other."
