FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 07, 1998

The nation’s Premiers are negotiating the future of Canada behind closed doors and without public debate, the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) said today. The AFL warned that the public should be aware that if we are not careful national standards will be watered down without anyone hearing about it.

"This is constitutional amendment by stealth," said Audrey Cormack, President of the AFL. "Here we are again with 12 men deciding behind closed doors what is best for the people of Canada. I fear we have Meech Lake and Charlottetown all over again."

"The process to reshape Canada’s ‘social union’ has been going on quietly for more than two years, yet barely anyone has heard about it. The silence surrounding this important discussion is alarming," added Cormack.

Cormack called for a halt to secret negotiations and demanded that the Premier’s begin a nation-wide public debate on the issue of devolution and the future of social programs. "Canadians believe in national programs, and the Premiers should not be messing with how those programs occur without first talking with Canadians."

The Premiers just completed their Annual Premiers’ Conference with unanimous agreement to push for more provincial powers in social policy. The provinces’ position in the so-called "social union" negotiations call for severe curtails to federal spending power and more flexibility in the delivery of social programs. They hope to see an agreement in place before the end of the year.

"Flexibility can only mean one thing – fewer national standards. And fewer national standards means a checkerboard of provincial programs," observed Cormack. "Under the arrangement the Premiers want, the creation of Medicare would have been impossible."

Cormack reminded people that the role of the Federal government is to ensure all Canadians have equal access to programs and services, regardless of where they live. "I fear that with watered-down national standards, all of us will feel just a little less ‘Canadian’, which does a great disservice to national unity."

Cormack also stated that the Alberta government, in particular, cannot be trusted to provide adequate services without national standards. "I think the whole reason Premier Klein wants devolution is so he can bring private health care to Alberta. Anytime the political leaders hatch up a deal without talking with the public, we know it is unlikely to be in the interests of working Canadians," Cormack concluded.