Premiers asking for more federal health care money: Stefanson
As hospitals deal with staff shortages and an influx of patients with respiratory illnesses, Canada's Premiers are pleading for a larger chunk of the federal funding pie for health care.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson hosted a virtual meeting in Winnipeg on Friday with her counterparts from the other provinces. They say they need billions of dollars more per year for health care, and want a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as soon as possible.
Surgical backlogs, addictions and mental health issues, and staff shortages are overwhelming the health care system.
"Canadians shouldn't have to wait any longer for necessary action," said Stefanson. "Unfortunately, despite assurances we have received no meaningful response from the federal government."
The Premiers claim that Ottawa is only covering 22 per cent of annual health care costs, with provinces picking up the remaining 78 per cent of the tab.
They want the federal government to cover 35 per cent of costs, which works out to an additional 28 billion dollars per year.
"That's the question that ultimately needs an answer and it needs and answer very quickly," said Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan.
So far, there has been no commitment from the federal government, though Ottawa says it has increased health spending.
And it appears that tying money to specific areas and benchmarks is a sticking point.
Canada's Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said he won't cut an unconditional cheque, and that they need to agree on outcomes before any meeting.
"Let's speak about the ends, what we want to do, and then assess the dollars needed from everyone, including the federal government to achieve those results," said Duclos.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said they need more than one time funding deals, and no strings attached.
"We need the flexibility to transfer from maybe one area to the other," said Ford. "All provinces aren't equal when it comes to what they need in health care."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.