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
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.