Yellowknife (Oct 29/03) - Since July, Canada's premiers have been working toward further development of the Council of the Federation, a first ministers forum suggested initially by Quebec Premier Jean Charest in what is being perceived as a sea change toward co-operative provincial relations with la belle province.

The development of the Council of the Federation is also positive for the Northwest Territories, said Premier Stephen Kakfwi, after exiting a premier's conference in Quebec City, Friday.

"It's a forum through which the ministers will meet more regularly to discuss issues of national concern such as SARS, forest fires and BSE (mad cow disease)," he said.

From a political science perspective, the full and formal participation of the territories in the Council of the Federation is another step toward provincehood for the Northwest Territories.

Work on developing the Council of the Federation is expected to continue in Charlottetown, Dec. 5.

On the related topic of Northern affairs and industry development, the premier complimented the work of federal INAC Minister Robert Nault.

"We need to work with the federal government and I would hope that Nault or whatever minister is there in his office (after Paul Martin takes power) will allow us to have some input. ... So far, Nault has been good about that, although we've had some major hiccups along the way with MVEIRB (Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board) and the Deh Cho," said Kakfwi.

Kakfwi characterized the relationship with Prime Minister Jean Chretien as very cautious.

"Prime Minister Chretien is not a big fan of meeting with the premiers simply because he sees it as a forum for fed bashing. Paul Martin is more interested in talking about a whole range of issues for policy development," he said.

The "Romanow gap," a gap in health funding between what was recommended by the former Saskatchewan premier in the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada and what was committed to by Chretien, was also a subject of discussion at the conference.

"We're interested to know Martin's view," said Kakfwi.