Canada's premiers are meeting in Vancouver on Wednesday for the start of a three-day meeting to discuss an array of issues ranging from health care to economic development.

Topping the agenda for Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and his British Columbia counterpart Christy Clark is the importance of tapping into Asia's economy.

Stelmach, whose government has already made Asian markets a priority, is anxious to export his province's natural resources to Asia-Pacific countries hungry for a stable supply of lumber, minerals and petroleum. In May, the Alberta government passed the Asia Advisory Council Act which examines the province's relationship with the region and to develop its own strategies.

On Tuesday, Clark told The Canadian Press that the provinces need to discuss how they can expand and improve trade with countries like India and China because they are the "future."

"It's the fastest growing middle class in the history of humanity ... across the Pacific. The biggest urbanization in the history of humanity is happening across the Pacific," Clark said.

The meeting could be the last time some premiers meet as equals with as many as seven provinces and territories holding elections in the fall.

Among those gearing up for a campaign is Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty who has already drawn the ire of Western provinces after he said the majority of federal Conservative government power has shifted to the West and Quebec.

McGuinty's rivals, however, said the comments are an attempt to save his party and gain some play back in his home province gearing up for the October election.

McGuinty said his priority will be discussing a new health-care accord, especially one that is committed to reform and securing funding.

The issue of the health-care accord is seen as a critical one, particularly for the three Maritime provinces where federal transfers and equalization make up approximately a third of all provincial revenues, according to the federal Finance Department.

Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter says the Atlantic provinces will be pushing for a united front on federal transfer payments.

Ottawa's current agreement with the provinces on transfer payments will expire in 2014.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest will not be at the meeting. He said last month he will instead be attending his daughter's wedding in France.