Labour mobility, interprovincial trade and greenhouse gas reduction will lead the agenda at a three-day meeting of provincial and territorial premiers this week.

Canada's 13 provincial and territorial premiers hope to settle their differences in key policy areas and hone strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when they meet in Quebec City on Wednesday.

But many have low expectations regarding climate change policy, said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

It's unlikely premiers will agree on energy and greenhouse gas issues, he said.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said he plans to drive home the message that the economy and environment can thrive simultaneously.

Stelmach said he'll promote carbon capture and storage technology to his provincial and territorial counterparts.

The technology involves pumping greenhouse gases underground to keep them out of the atmosphere.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham said dismantling Canada's internal trade barriers is essential to insulating provinces and territories from the North American economic downturn.

In southern New Brunswick, planned energy megaprojects will require up to 33,000 workers, a recruitment task that could benefit from loosening restrictions on interprovincial employment, he said.

There is work that needs to be done with organizations and groups to ensure trade skills are transferable and not subject to bureaucratic red tape between provinces and territories, he added.

Progress has been made over the years in talks about labour mobility and internal trade, but the federal government needs to take the lead in climate change policy, said a source in the Ontario government.

The three-day meeting will begin Wednesday with a session on First Nations issues.

With files from the Canadian Press