Premiers warn against Ottawa encroaching on provincial jurisdiction

Canada’s premiers are warning Ottawa against encroaching on provincial jurisdiction, days after the federal budget unveiled strict conditions their governments must meet in order to access billions of dollars in spending on housing and other policy areas that traditionally fall within the provinces’ purview.A letter released on Friday and signed by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who chairs the Council of the Federation, a group made up of Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders, says Ottawa should avoid dictating terms in areas the Constitution reserves for provincial governments. It adds that the federal government should pledge to hand over fair shares of funding to provinces and territories that don’t want to comply with Ottawa’s demands.