With the economy facing major challenges, the premiers and territorial leaders want Prime Minister Stephen Harper to break with past practice and attend a first ministers meeting later this year.

The leaders extended the invitation to Stephen Harper during the second day of the Council of the Federation in Halifax Thursday.

“Having a strong and growing economy is the number one priority of the premiers,” said Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter.

Harper has been reluctant in the past to hold first minister’s meetings, but Dexter says his attendance at the fall conference is vital in ensuring the provinces are protected from a global economy in flux.

“The Prime Minister won’t have a coordinated plan to deal with the country’s economy,” said Dexter. “He has 13 willing partners who want to construct and ensure a successful Canadian economy. We think that’s a good reason for him to come.”

Previous meetings between the leaders and the prime minister have been in the form of dinner dates.

Dexter says this time, the leaders are looking for something more than just a one-day gathering. He said the conference will involve presentations and expert input.

The meeting is to be scheduled in late November, after the United States presidential election, so that the leaders can assess the new political landscape south of the border.

The Prime Minister’s Office wouldn’t say specifically whether the PM would attend the meeting.