HALIFAX, N.S. – Premiers from across Canada are gathering today in Halifax to construct a plan that aims to help guide their province’s through these tough economic times.

Mild growth and growing debt inspired the Council of Federation to hold the meeting and were hoping Prime Minister Stephen Harper would attend.

The Prime Minister declined the invite which Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter tells the Todd Veinotte Show… will make it harder to plan ahead. “It’s important to us as the leaders of the provinces across the country to know where the federal government is going.”

The idea for the gathering came up during the last premiers’ meeting in July.

That was before revised figures showing a higher federal deficit and growing concerns over the US economy.