B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, left, Alberta's Ed Stelmach, centre, and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall conclude a news conference Friday in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Canada's three western-most provinces are another step closer to a comprehensive economic agreement.

They hope to form the largest barrier-free trade and investment market in Canada, as the three provinces will work closer together on international marketing, innovation and procurement.

"I am pleased that we are one step closer to completing the Western Economic Partnership that we committed to at our last meeting [in March]," said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. "This partnership will break down unnecessary trade barriers and facilitate co-operation on international marketing, innovation and procurement."

Following two days of meetings in Calgary, the trio said they want to work toward a new regional, voluntary pension plan for workers without an employer-based plan. The premiers, who took key cabinet members to the summit, expressed concern that only 20 per cent of private-sector workers in the three provinces are covered by employer pension plans.

"It is unacceptable that so many of our citizens are not in a position to take advantage of an employer-sponsored pension plan," said British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. "We are all firmly committed to working together to develop an option that will provide a pension plan for those workers not currently benefiting from such a plan."

The premiers also discussed new research and development collaboration between the three jurisdictions, as well as the federal Expert Review Panel on Medical Isotopes, and talked about eliminating reliance on a single source for medical isotopes.

The premiers also discussed crime and said they would coordinate an interprovincial gang database by the end of 2009.

They also plan a joint mission to Asia in 2010 to explore trade and investment opportunities.

The three jurisdictions also signed a memo on carbon capture technology and policy, which focuses on advancing cooperation on energy research and technology.