OTTAWA – Prime ministers have expressed optimism about achieving a better national policy. Health funding agreement with the federal government, ahead of next week’s meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said in Ottawa on Wednesday that he believed the federal government would present the provinces and territories with details of a Health transfer deal that could lead to a national deal, but was open to BC-specific side talks
These could include discussions about mental health. Health and addiction treatment programs, increasing the number of family doctors and expanding care.
“We will be talking about basic funding for the provinces, but with the ability for the provinces to have discussions with the federal government on key areas of provincial priority,” he told a news conference in the capital.
“I am convinced that BC’s priorities are not necessarily the same as those of Quebec, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also said Wednesday that he was hopeful the provinces could come to an agreement. Health–care deal with the federal government after next Tuesday’s meeting with the prime minister.
Last month, Ford said that the provinces would not sign individual agreements with the federal government.
Premiers and Health Ministers across the country have called on Ottawa to increase its involvement in Health–care costs at 35%, compared to 22% today.
Trudeau has said the funding will come with conditions, including sharing Health data and results for a national database.
Eby said the prime minister did not provide financial details for the Health funding talks next week during a 45-minute meeting with him on Wednesday.
“He said that he will present a very clear and understandable proposal to the prime ministers,” Eby said.
The meeting also included a discussion on the importance of Health data to provide accountability for funding for both the federal and provincial governments, Eby said.
The BC premier is also scheduled to meet Ford on Thursday in Toronto.
Ford echoed Trudeau’s recent comments that a deal will not be signed at the February 7 meeting.
“But we should come to an agreement soon after,” Ford said in Brampton, Ontario.
“We can’t keep dragging this out when we all feel pressure on Health care,” he said.
Ford has said it wants to use the increased federal funding to hire more nurses and doctors, as well as help address the backlog of surgeries.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault said he was looking forward to the Health talks.
“We hope to have good news,” he said.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said he is also optimistic that the provinces and the federal government will come to an agreement.
he said he believes Health–care the standards should be comparable between provinces where they learn from each other about what works best.
“I think it’s important that we can agree and I think it’s not difficult to agree on what those standards could be,” Higgs told a news conference. “But I think it should be left up to the provinces how we achieve that level of performance because that becomes more sensitive to some than others.”
The federal government should not dictate to the provinces how they achieve comparables Health–care rules, he said.
“I think they should say, ‘OK. Let’s agree on access to primary care. Let’s agree on the deadlines that are standard in the country,” said Higgs.
Eby said he hopes the federal government will present an offer to the provinces that will result in meaningful talks toward a deal.
“British Columbians don’t want to see the federal government and the provincial government in a bun fight over Health–care dollars,” he said. “They want to see us deliver for them.”
– With files from Dirk Meissner in Victoria, Allison Jones in Toronto and Hina Alam in Fredericton.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 1, 2023.