Premiers focus on key issues facing Canadians

HALIFAX, July 16, 2024 – Canada’s Premiers are focused on key issues facing Canadians today and into the future. Premiers discussed ways to continue building strong, resilient communities and a prosperous Canada.

Key priorities discussed by Premiers included:

• Housing, affordability, and skills training
• Strategic infrastructure
• The future of energy
• Emergency preparedness and response

Premiers continue to share Canadians’ concerns about affordability and the high cost of living. Every government must play its part in relieving the affordability crises while advancing economic prosperity.

Housing, Affordability, and Skills Training

While the federal government is making efforts to improve the availability and affordability of housing, Canada’s housing crisis requires flexibility so funding programs respond to local and regional needs including all housing types. Consideration must be given to the increasing and changing pressures on the demand for housing, including the impact of population growth, and the significant number of asylum seekers in some jurisdictions.

Provinces and territories have a long and proud history of welcoming newcomers to Canada. However, given the pressures on housing and the availability of programs and supports, Premiers are calling on the federal government to expedite assessment of genuine asylum seekers entering Canada and to work with provincial and territorial governments to determine the appropriate number of accepted asylum seekers.

Premiers support a fair distribution of asylum seekers across Canada corresponding to provincial and territorial capacity to provide housing and other supports and services. The federal government must provide appropriate funding for these costs.

Premiers met with National Indigenous Organization leaders and Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs ahead of their annual summer meeting. Premiers share their concerns that the federal government is not providing adequate funding to meet the housing needs of Indigenous communities. Adequate housing is key to supporting the well-being of Indigenous peoples and reconciliation. The federal government must accelerate investments to address the acute housing needs of Indigenous communities, both on and off-reserve, and meaningfully engage with provinces and territories and Indigenous governments and organizations to ensure coordinated action on Indigenous housing.

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