Dix ‘delighted’ premiers will meet PM on healthcare funding

B.C.'s health minister says he's "delighted" Canada's premiers are set to meet with the prime minister next month to discuss a potential deal to increase federal health funding.

British Columbia’s health minister says he’s “delighted” Canada’s premiers are set to meet with the prime minister early next month to discuss a potential deal to increase federal health funding.

Adrian Dix says the premiers had long been asking to meet Justin Trudeau as they call on Ottawa to boost its contributions through the Canada Health Transfer.

The premiers have demanded the federal government increase its share of health-care spending to 35 per cent from 22 per cent, with no strings attached, while Ottawa has insisted the funds must come with accountability measures.

Asked whether B.C. is open to measures aimed at ensuring funding is used to directly improve care, Dix told reporters B.C. is “meeting the test” as it undertakes “massive” reforms in primary care.

Dix says a “major impediment” has been overcome simply by agreeing to sitting down at the Feb. 7 talks in Ottawa, as the premiers had been asking to meet for two years.

The prime minister said Wednesday no deals would be signed at the meeting, and it would rather be about “starting the very direct hard work of the bilateral arrangements that will happen with every province.”

While provinces and territories are responsible for health-care delivery, Ottawa provides a transfer to cover some of the costs. In 2022-23, that transfer totalled $45 billion, an increase of more than 40 per cent in the last eight years.

The current funding formula ensures the annual Canada Health Transfer goes up at least three per cent a year, and more if Canada’s economic growth is outpacing that amount. It increased 4.8 per cent between 2021-22 and 2022-23, and it’s currently set to rise nine per cent, to $49 billion, next year.