Though Saskatchewan and Manitoba are holding out, signing on to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change is in the best interest of the Yukon, says Premier Sandy Silver.

The pan-Canadian framework represents Canada’s plan to meet its 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels.

Eleven of Canada’s 13 premiers signed the agreement at a first ministers’ meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Friday.

In an interview with Star this morning, the premier explained that the framework, which includes provisions on carbon pricing, gives each province and territory an “annex” outlining measures specific to each jurisdiction.

The framework’s introduction says it’s “consistent with the commitment under the Paris Agreement,” and that Canada will “increase the level of ambition over time.”

For the Yukon, it means the territorial and federal governments work together on renewable energy projects and on renovating buildings to make them more energy-efficient.

Beyond government buildings, Silver wants Ottawa to be a partner in establishing incentives for homeowners and renters to retrofit their homes.

The agreement also ensures that the Yukon will keep 100 per cent of the revenues generated from a carbon price inside the territory.

In a press release issued Friday, the Yukon government said it will return these revenues to residents and businesses in rebates. Details on such a rebate program have yet to be determined.

The framework also recognizes the “unique circumstances and opportunities of Indigenous Peoples and northern, remote and vulnerable communities,” and draws upon traditional knowledge.

A Dec. 9 statement on the framework from the Prime Minister’s Office says that “All decision-making processes and activities related to climate change will recognize, respect, and safeguard the inherent and Treaty rights of Indigenous Peoples, affirmed in Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada.”

Silver, who was tasked with chairing the first ministers’ meeting less than a week after being sworn in as premier on Dec. 3, said, “Everyone was agreeing with everything except for the carbon pricing mechanism.

“That was the one sticking point.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is opposed to carbon pricing in his province and refused to sign onto the framework after last week’s summit in Ottawa. Brian Pallister, Manitoba’s premier, also declined to sign the agreement.

“Manitoba decided to use the health care, Canadian Health Transfer, as a wedge issue,” said Silver.

Pallister wanted the government leaders to commit to another first ministers’ meeting on health before he would sign this agreement on climate change, said Silver.

“In my opinion, that’s a little bit short-sighted,” he said.

“You’re missing out on an opportunity to create your annex, to work with the government to make sure that as these pricing mechanisms are initiated, that you have the ability to create one for yourself, that works for your province or territory.”

Not signing the agreement is not the same as excusing yourself from carbon pricing, said Silver.

Rather, it means that Ottawa will impose its own carbon pricing scheme on these provinces, effectively limiting the ability of Manitoba and Saskatchewan to determine how revenues are used inside their respective borders.

Silver asserted that it wasn’t his job, as chair, to “convince anyone to do anything.”

In Silver’s opening remarks, he expressed the prairie provinces’ desire to raise the health accord, but the prime minister quickly shot down that proposition.

“It was a learning experience for me,” he said.

The three territorial premiers had a separate, two-hour-long meeting in which they discussed the importance of presenting a united voice for the North. They agreed to talk in advance of future first ministers’ meetings and go into talks with premiers “on the same page,” said Silver.

He also had a 20-minute one-on-one with Trudeau, which Silver called “fantastic.”

The prime minister offered advice on chairing the Council of the Federation, the collective of Canada’s 13 premiers, and leadership in general.

“It was just a really human conversation about making sure that you take care of yourself, you need to stay healthy and get enough sleep, it was a great conversation,” said Silver

U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden was also in Ottawa last week. He spoke to the premiers about climate change, and attempted reassurance in the face of an uncertain future under president-elect Donald Trump.

While he hailed Biden as “brilliant” and “passionate,” Silver said he found the vice-president to be “a little bit of a distraction.”

While the other premiers attended a dinner in the vice-president’s honour last Thursday night, Silver dined with National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Grand Chief Peter Johnston of the Yukon Council of First Nations, among other indigenous leaders at the AFN gala.

Silver, who was the only premier in attendance, said he was “very humble” to be sat at the Bellegarde’s table.

“That night there was the Joe Biden gala that I didn’t go to because I’d rather sit down with the First Nations leadership,” said Silver.

“It wasn’t lost on (Bellegarde) that I missed the Biden event, and every chief that came over to our table, he introduced me as the only premier that’s missing the V.I.P event.”

Bellegarde told Silver he wants the National Indigenous Organizations – the Assembly of First Nations, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Inuit Tapiriit Knatami, Métis National Council and Native Women’s Association of Canada – invited as peers and leaders to future first ministers’ meetings.

Johnston also appreciated Silver’s presence at the AFN gala.

“I was very happy that the premier sat with us at the head table with the national chief; that’s never happened,” said Johnston.

“All those little things, even though how small they may seem, it’s us moving forward ... that we get that recognition of who we are in the Yukon.”

Johnston said he was not involved in the climate change talks. Chief Doris Bill of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Chief Roberta Joseph of Tr’ondek Hwechin took the lead there.

The grand chief did, however, get brief face time with Carolyn Bennett, the minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

Notably, said Johnston, the minister said she would push to prioritize in the House of Commons Bill C-17, the act to repeal the four contentious amendments made to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act under Bill S-6.

Johnston isn’t convinced that representation at first ministers’ meetings through the National Indigenous Organizations would benefit Yukon First Nations, which are members of the AFN.

“AFN is accountable to us, which is great. The others aren’t so much,” said Johnson.

AFN meets at least twice a year, the national chief has been to the Yukon, so there is a level of accountability and transparency, he said.

“But the other ones, we don’t have any ability to say ‘What are you doing?’... So I have some difficulties about that, their representation at that table.”

Bellegarde is looking at hosting a northern table in the future, which is important, said Johnston, because self-governing First Nations in the North operate differently from treaty First Nations elsewhere in Canada.

“Even though we have our own mechanisms to deal with government here, it’s always good to have others who are supporting your movement also,” said Johnston.

It was also proposed that the next Intergovernmental Forum, the meeting of First Nations, Yukon government and federal government leaders, be held in Ottawa this coming February.

In Ottawa, explained Johnston, First Nations leaders could more easily connect with specific ministers, “which would be incredible, it would be another first.”

“Everything is about us moving in a more constructive and positive way. Just having that presence in Ottawa, we need to have that.”