ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Canada's premiers will meet again in a last-ditch attempt to hammer out an agreement on a new equalization formula.
Newfoundland government sources have confirmed that the Council of the Federation will meet Feb. 7 in Toronto to discuss the program, but details of the meeting are still being finalized.
Last year, premiers and provincial finance ministers met several times but could not achieve consensus on the divisive issue.
Premier Danny Williams and Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert have said they will campaign in each other's provinces to build support against the inclusion of resource revenues in a new formula.
For months they have been engaged in a fight with Ottawa over the federal program, arguing that including non-renewable resources in equalization would harm their provinces.
Other provinces, such as Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, want non-renewable resource revenue included.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has not said what the federal government will ultimately decide, but said it will come up with a resolution in its next budget.
The $12-billion equalization program is designed to help poorer provinces provide a national standard of government services and programs.
