Pallister addresses border reopening at Western Premiers' Conference
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said the reopening of borders is “inseparably linked” with vaccination uptake.
Pallister was asked about interprovincial travel at the conclusion of the virtual Western Premiers’ Conference on Tuesday.
“Any discussion around reduction of border barriers has to also recognize the reality of the vaccine as the way out of this mess,” Pallister said.
Pallister said they didn’t have a lot of discussion surrounding vaccine cards for interprovincial travel, noting different provinces are at different levels of conversation of whether or not it would be a useful tool.
“The ultimate goal is, of course, to have no barriers as we once enjoyed without thinking about it,” Pallister said. “We can’t get there unless we have uptake on vaccine.”
Health care and mental health were among the topics of discussion at the virtual meeting.
Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq said COVID-19 has shown the limitations of the health care system --- both fiscally and with regards to human resources. The premiers are calling for reoccurring funding through the Canadian health care transfer.
After 16 months of lockdowns and the anticipated long-term effects, the premiers said they’ll need dedicated programs, services and funding to help address mental health and addictions issues.
They also discussed post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, and infrastructure during the meeting.
Pallister spoke about the value of developing resources --- notably hydroelectricity --- and stressed the importance of getting more goods to market.
“Whether it’s hydroelectric or other products, we’re ready to do go,” Pallister said, adding a focus on transportation of these products is vital.
Pallister also mentioned the need for partnerships in projects like the Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin outlet channel to prevent flooding.
“This is where work with the federal government is vitally important in order to help facilitate the development of certain projects,” Pallister said.
Pallister said these types of projects will help create jobs post-pandemic and the opportunity to create more wealth.
The premiers also addressed the need to do better for Indigenous and Muslim committees, stating, “hate has no place in Canada.”
Earlier Tuesday, the Ontario government announced $10 million to search former residential school sites for unmarked graves.
When asked if Manitoba will announce similar funding, Pallister said the province is already partnering with the federal government and First Nations communities on a number of projects.
“The real history and the real reality of our country needs to be looked at, scars and all, and it needs to be looked at together in a spirit of partnership,” Pallister said. “This is how we built this country, but we didn’t build it perfectly and we need to acknowledge that.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Macklem tries to stay out of the fray as MPs do their best to use him to score points
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem navigates a political minefield every time he testifies before the House of Commons finance committee.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.