First Ministers' conference

Though known as "First Ministers' conferences" only since the 1960s, they ultimately trace their origin to the initial constitutional convention held in the mid-1860s at Charlottetown, PEI, then-capital of the British Province of Prince Edward Island.

The failed Charlottetown Accord contained a provision that would have made annual First Ministers' conferences obligatory.

A sizable portion of provincial funding (referred to as transfer payments) comes from the federal government, the conferences are an opportunity for the premiers to lobby for more money.

The vast majority of the activity at a First Ministers' conference takes place behind closed doors.

Formerly, the government leaders of the territories were only occasionally invited to these conferences, depending on whether issues especially relevant to the north are being discussed.