What is the Council of the Federation?

The Council of the Federation (in French, le Conseil de la fédération) is the intergovernmental body of Canada's 10 provincial Premiers and 3 territorial Premiers. The Council was established on December 5, 2003 by the provinces and territories, replacing the older Annual Premiers' Conference (which had operated since 1960). The Council provides a permanent secretariat and professional support for premiers' coordination on federal-provincial-territorial matters.

The Council meets twice each year as a full body. The Summer Meeting (typically in July or August in a host province or territory) is the principal annual meeting, with the host premier rotating annually in a regional sequence. The Winter Meeting (typically in February) is shorter and focused on specific topics. Premiers also hold smaller meetings of regional groups (the Western Premiers' Conference, the Atlantic Premiers' Conference, the Council of Atlantic Premiers, etc.) and of working groups on specific issues.

The Council coordinates provincial-territorial positions on issues including federal-provincial fiscal arrangements, federal transfers (the Canada Health Transfer, Canada Social Transfer, Equalization), trade and economic policy, environment and climate change, healthcare, education, Indigenous reconciliation, and other areas of shared interest. The Council does not have legal authority to bind any of its members but operates by consensus and produces communiqués that reflect agreed positions. The Council secretariat is based in Ottawa.

The Council interacts regularly with the federal government through First Ministers' Meetings (meetings of the Prime Minister and the 13 premiers, held when the Prime Minister wishes to engage premiers on a major issue) and through federal-provincial-territorial ministers' meetings on specific portfolios. Notable Council interventions include positions on the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act of 2018, the federal Bill C-13 (modernised Official Languages Act) of 2023, federal carbon-pricing policy, and the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan and Pharmacare Act of 2024. The Council took on a particularly prominent role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when premiers met frequently with the Prime Minister on pandemic policy. The Council's website at canadaspremiers.ca publishes communiqués and policy positions.