Back pain keeps Williams from premiers meeting

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams has had to scratch plans to attend a premiers conference in Manitoba because of back pain.

"He has thrown his back out and travelling across the country would have been terribly painful and certainly not have helped the problem," Elizabeth Matthews, the premier's director of communications, told CBC News in an email.

"Sitting is quite painful for him."

Canada's premiers gathered in Winnipeg Wednesday for the annual summer meeting of the Council of the Federation.

Williams, who turned 61 on Wednesday, made international headlines earlier this year with another health issue, when he chose to have a non-invasive heart procedure in the U.S. Williams, an advocate of Canada's medicare system, defended his choice, and said he was following the medical advice he was given.

Health Minister Jerome Kennedy is representing Newfoundland and Labrador at the premiers meeting.