Canada’s premiers are set to wrap up their annual summer summit in Edmonton today with discussions about cannabis regulation, abortion pill availability, and the Nutrition North program.

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver spoke to the Star by phone Tuesday afternoon.

He said Canada’s premiers, known collectively as the Council of the Federation, are “more united than we are divided” on issues of free trade with the U.S. and Mexico, which dominated Tuesday’s agenda.

Impending North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations were a hot topic this week, with the United States releasing a summary on Monday of what it aims to get out of a revised international trade deal.

Specifically, the U.S. wants to do away with Chapter 19 of NAFTA, which provides for a trade dispute settlement panel. This panel has tended to rule in favour of Canada in softwood lumber disputes.

David MacNaughton, the Canadian ambassador to the United States, made an appearance at yesterday’s meetings, where he updated the premiers on upcoming trade talks with the U.S.

Silver called the meeting with MacNaughton “fantastic.” He said the ambassador expressed hope about the future of Canada’s relationship with its most important trading partner.

“He seems optimistic when it comes to Chapter 19, that moving forward we’ll be pleasantly surprised with that issue,” said Silver. He is attending his first summer premiers’ gathering since winning the November 2016 Yukon election.

Discussions in Edmonton, and the future of NAFTA, will affect the Yukon as it tries to build up its homegrown revenue sources, added Silver.

Yukon exporters had an exemption to certain duties under the softwood lumber agreement that expired in 2015.

“We want to make sure that that exemption continues,” said Silver.

The Liberal premier’s spokesperson, Sunny Patch, added that, “Yukon supports our provincial neighbours and the work of the federal government in achieving a fair softwood lumber deal.”

The Yukon’s softwood lumber industry is relatively small. It consists of two known companies that produce core boxes for the mining industry, Rod Jacob, a Department of Energy, Mines and Resources spokesperson, said today.

Canada and the U.S. traded more than $841 billion CAD in goods and services in 2016, and trade among the three NAFTA nations reached nearly $1.45 trillion, according to a Council of the Federation press release issued Tuesday.

Typically, the premiers meet with national Indigenous organizations on day one of their annual gathering, but this year got off to a rocky start.

The Assembly of First Nations, Métis Nation of Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatmi boycotted talks Monday. They said would not attend the summit if they could not also have seats at the Council of the Federation meetings scheduled for Tuesday and today.

“The AFN (Assembly of First Nations) represents First Nations governments, the rights holders, and any discussions by provincial, territorial and federal governments can impact First Nations peoples and First Nations rights,” National Chief Bellegarde said in a statement Monday.

“We are not just another special interest group. An effective process for intergovernmental participation must reflect our status under the Constitution and international law as peoples and nations with inherent rights, title and jurisdiction.

“First Nations will not accept an exclusionary and disrespectful approach.”

Bellgarde said he sent a letter to Silver, the outgoing council chair, and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who took over, proposing seats at the intergovernmental meetings for the AFN national chief and executive committee.

Asked whether he would be open to having the Indigenous organizations present at the premiers’ talks, Silver said, “I’m open to an increased dialogue with all of the five NIOs (national Indigenous organizations).”

Silver said it was “unfortunate” that three organizations chose not to attend meetings on Monday.

The Yukon premier also wants to see an enhanced presence of self-governing First Nations at these kinds of meetings in the future.

“For us in the Yukon, we have almost half of the self-governing First Nations across Canada. AFN represents on- and off-reserve First Nations. We keep saying we need to see more self-governing First Nations representation,” he said.

“The premiers are all in agreement that we want to meet with the five INOs. We get better and better with communication, and it’s unfortunate that three out of the five didn’t show up but those who did show up, it was a fantastic meeting,” Silver added.

At last year’s Council of the Federation summit, the premiers and Indigenous organization leaders agreed to make Indigenous child welfare their top priority.

However, it’s unclear exactly what actions have been taken as a result of last year’s resolution.

Silver said issues relating to Indigenous children were the focus of discussions on Monday.

A spate of child suicides has wreaked havoc on Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory in northern Ontario this year, with four children taking their own lives in Pikangikum, a fly-in reserve, this month.

Silver said suicide prevention was also discussed at Monday’s meetings.