Premiers gather in Ottawa to discuss trade, climate, health care

Canada’s premiers meet on Friday to discuss a range of issues that include climate change, infrastructure, internal trade barriers and the health-care needs of the country’s seniors.

The premiers — all but Alberta’s Jim Prentice and Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall — are gathering at a conference centre just a few blocks from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office.

The prime minister was invited to the meeting by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, but won’t be showing up.

On the eve of the event, both Wynne and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau chided Harper for his failure to attend yet another Council of the Federation meeting.

They also accused the federal government of an absence of leadership that has all but forced the provinces and territories to tackle carbon pricing and climate change on their own.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is scheduled to update his counterparts about the so-called Canadian Energy Strategy today. It’s an initiative involving all 13 provinces and territories focused on climate change and clean energy.

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