Executive federalism is "the processes of intergovernmental negotiation that are dominated by the executives of the different governments within the federal system." Alternatively, Donald Smiley defined Executive federalism as “the relation between elected and appointed officials of the two orders of government.”
Canada
In Canada, the most publicized aspect of Executive federalism is the First Ministers Conference; however, in recent years the Council of the Federation has become the important bi-annual meeting between the Premiers of Canada. Notable efforts at the Council of the Federation include Premier Mike Harris' attempt to promote the idea that the provinces should take primary responsibility to set the national standards in social policy and Alberta's Premier Ralph Klein calling on other premiers to join him in opposing Ottawa's signing of the Kyoto protocol