Premiers from Western Canada and the North have agreed to a common agenda to lobby the federal government in support of further improvements to inter-provincial trade, investment and labour accessibility and mobility.
The premiers of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut signed an "Open Skies" declaration asking the federal government to sign more such agreements to improve air services, increase flight options and increase competition in the airline industry.
They also urged the government to eliminate the cap on the provincial nominee program, which accelerates the application process for immigrants to obtain permanent resident status. The cap, the premiers say, will constrain Western Canada’s ability to attract the necessary skilled workers in a resurgent economy.
Other initiatives include creating training hubs within the region to avoid duplication of training in specialized programs, as well as improving education in aboriginal communities.