BR Health Transfers – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Jan 4, 2017 

OTTAWA – The federal government’s plan to negotiate bilateral health transfer deals with provinces and territories is running out of momentum.

After talks to establish a national funding framework fell apart last month, the feds reached side deals with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

But health and finance ministers from the other provinces and territories are now repeating their call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet face to face with the premiers to resume negotiations.

In a letter to their federal counterparts, they reiterated their objection to Ottawa’s last offer to increase transfers by 3.5 per cent per year and 11.5 billion in targeted funding over 10 years.

The letter says Canadians expect and deserve their governments to provide long-term sustainable support so that public health care is strong today and for future generations.

Later, a Trudeau government official said there were no immediate plans for a first ministers meeting on health.

The feds have argued that they put forward a “historic” offer that is the best they could do within the confines of their own narrow fiscal framework.

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(The Canadian Press)

INDEX: HEALTH NATIONAL POLITICS