Climate, refugees top issues at first ministers meeting, Greg Selinger says

Refugees, the economy and climate change will all be key topics during a first ministers meeting on Monday in Ottawa, Manitoba Premier GregSelinger says.

"You know we are not going to be able to deal with everything in one day, but I think you will see a very open and informal discussion on all the issues that we need to collaborate on together," he said.

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The meeting is the first time in seven years that the premiers and prime minister have formally satdown together.

It will hopefully offerManitoba a way forward in terms of addressingclimate change, saidSelinger.

It will be "interesting," Selinger said, to hear what the federal government'sgreenhouse gas targets will be.

"We want to hear from them. I think we will have that conversation together to see howwe can make sure Canada makes a positive contribution to climate change," saidSelinger.

Manitoba will announce its emissions targetafter the first ministers meeting, he said.

"We've got a target that we've been working on. We'll hear from everybody else and see what we can dotogether."

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Everyone, including Manitobans,has a stake in addressing climate change, he added.

"We've seen the $1 billion-plus flood in 2011, we saw another major flood last year. These natural disasters are occurring more regularly, with greater intensity, not only in Manitoba but all throughout North America," said Selinger.

Selingerwill also joinotherpremiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeauin Parisforthe2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.