Statement from Premier Pemberton on the Council of the Federation summer meeting

Premier Mike Pemberton has issued the following statement:

“From July 21 to 23, I joined all 13 provincial and territorial Premiers in Huntsville, Ontario, for this year’s summer meeting of the Council of the Federation.

"This annual gathering gives us a chance to work together on the big issues that matter to people across the country. It also helps build strong relationships between governments – something that’s essential when challenges cross borders.

"Public safety was a key part of our discussions – and it’s a personal priority for me. Premiers agreed that making our communities safer requires close coordination between all levels of government.

"We also talked about a wide range of other topics, including the economy and how to make it easier for goods, services and workers to move across provinces and territories.

"For a fast-growing place like the Yukon, immigration plays a big role in supporting that growth – along with investments in housing and infrastructure. I emphasized the need for the federal government to work closely with provinces and territories to plan for the future. Each of us brings a unique perspective and set of challenges to the table, and it’s critical that we’re treated as equal partners.

"I also brought forward Yukon’s top energy priority: connecting the Yukon and British Columbia’s power grids. Reliable, clean energy is key to our future – it supports sovereignty in the North, economic development and energy security for the entire region.

"With over 80 wildfires burning across the Yukon – and many more across Canada – emergency preparedness was also front of mind. We talked about the importance of helping one another in times of crisis, and the need to keep strengthening how we work together and share resources during emergencies.

"I also took time to keep building our partnerships with Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut - discussing opportunities to support labour mobility and economic growth through memorandums of understanding.

"I want to thank Premier Doug Ford for his work as chair of the Council of the Federation over the past year and congratulate Premier Rob Lantz of Prince Edward Island as he steps into the role for the year ahead.”
 

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected] 
 

News release #:
25-309
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Date modified: 2025-07-23