Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the annual Premier's conference in August 1995, an agreement was reached on the establishment of a Provincial-Territorial Council of Ministers for Social Policy Reform and Renewal. Premiers supported the establishment of the council because Ottawa was acting unilaterally on changes to Canada's social safety net.
The social safety package includes a variety of programs and services relating to health care, education, welfare, unemployment insurance, training and care for children, single parents and the elderly.
Premiers directed the Council of Ministers to prepare a set of principles which the provinces and territories would use to guide changes to Canada's social policy. Since August, the process of developing these principles has involved consulting with other provincial/territorial ministerial forums which meet regularly to deal with health, social services and labour market training issues.
On Tuesday, I attended a meeting of provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services in Calgary. On Wednesday, I attended the meeting of the ministerial council; also in Calgary.
Mr. Speaker, the Tuesday meeting produced a consensus among Social Services Ministers on a number of issues. For example, Ministers reaffirmed that the federal government has the primary responsibility, in law and through policy, for funding social service programs for aboriginal Canadians. Social Services Ministers also confirmed their commitment to reducing overlap and duplication. Ottawa, the provinces and territories, municipal and aboriginal governments must be more efficient in delivering programs and services.
Social Services Ministers completed their one-day meeting with a package to forward to the Social Policy Council. I should also note that Health, labour market and Status of Women Ministers have separately forwarded their views to the ministerial council.
On Wednesday, the council reviewed a draft report which will be forwarded to Premiers in the coming weeks. Provincial and territorial Premiers are expected to meet early in the new year to review the report. Their job will be to confirm a set of guiding principles for future negotiations with Ottawa on reforms to Canada's social programs.
Mr. Speaker, I realize my remarks have focused largely on the process. However, getting 10 provinces and two territories to agree on anything requires an initial commitment to process from all participants.
Nevertheless I can report that:
-A number of the provinces, particularly in the West, are taking a strong stand on federal responsibility for aboriginal social programs;
-Ministers in the South have recognized the reality of self-government and how aboriginal institutions will be delivering social programs in the future;
-They have also recognized the special circumstances of smaller jurisdictions which need to work out cooperative and shared arrangements with Ottawa for delivering programs and services;
-Finally, all provinces and territories are committed to ensuring that Canadians in need will have access to the social safety net.
Mr. Speaker, it is my intention to brief committees of this House on what has and will be taking place leading up to Premiers' meetings early in the new year. I also intend to keep aboriginal organizations, health boards and other social services agencies informed of these initiatives in the coming months.
Finally, social policy reform has government-wide implications. Therefore, the government's position cannot be developed in isolation of the Ministers of Finance, Education, Culture and Employment, women's bureau and national constitutional affairs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause