Beyond the stabilization fix, the premiers have also agreed to ask Ottawa to bolster the country’s economic competitiveness by “improving” Bill C-69, the Liberal government’s controversial overhaul of the environmental assessment act. The premiers want Ottawa to exempt some projects that fall under provincial jurisdiction — most importantly in-situ oilsands projects in Alberta — from a mandatory federal review.

The federal Liberal government has said it would consider exempting new oilsands developments if Kenney maintains a cap on emissions from the sector.

The premiers said Canada must continue to develop its natural resources in a “responsible manner and ensure access to markets for Canada’s products” — a thinly-veiled reference to pipeline projects that will carry Canada’s oil and gas to markets abroad.