Jim Prentice won't be at Ottawa premiers' meeting

Alberta premier Jim Prentice isn't going to this week's premiers' meeting in Ottawa.

His office says Prentice is preoccupied with the upcoming provincial budget. He's sending Alberta's municipal affairs minister Diana McQueen to the Friday meeting instead.

Alberta will also have another representative at the meeting: B.C. premier Christy Clark.

"I'm the only western premier going," Clark said. "I'll be advancing the interests of Western Canada and B.C. when I'm there."

The B.C. Liberal premier said she's already spoken with Prentice and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall (who is also not planning to attend), "to make sure we are all on the same page" about the agenda.

Inter-provincial trade issues are among the things she'll bring to the table.

"As the world goes through all of this turmoil, for heaven's sake we should be trading freely between our own provinces," she said. "That's the best way, the quickest way to be able to strengthen the national economy."

The Council of the Federation meets twice a year. Its main function is to present a united front among the 13 provinces and territories when dealing with the federal government.

Prime minister Stephen Harper will not attend the meeting. His office says he meets regularly with the provincial premiers one-on-one.