Saturday June 24, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
BC Premier David Eby, chair of the Western Premiers’ Conference, will be hosting a news conference in the Resort Municipality of Whistler on Tuesday June 27.
Premier Eby will be joined by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson (Chair of the Council of the Federation), Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane, and Nunavut Premier PJ Akeeagok.
Key issues:
Today Premier Eby told media about the importance of transportation and infrastructure being key issues for dicussion. Whether housing would be a key concern, the answer was filtered back through the importance of transportation and infrastructure as key deliverables of any province that is dealing with increasing population load.
The population of BC increased by 250,000 in 2021 and 2022. Another significant population increase is expected this year.
Eby itemized the old sewer pipes in Prince George as needing upgrading and the roads in Greater Vancouver area also needing attention to help avoid traffic gridlock.
Looking to the federal government for cooperation and funding is part of the Western premiers meeting objective.
Other matters of attention might include health-care, housing, inflation and the economy, consumer affordability, climate change and emergency preparedness.
Meeting in Whistler:
The meeting will be held at the Four Seasons Resort in the popular ski-resort tourism town with the Coast Mountain Range, 120 km north of Vancouver.
The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is about 2.5 hours along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway.
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