Provinces, federal government fail to make progress on health care funding

The organization representing premiers expressed disappointment with the lack of a federal response on the critical issue of sustainable health funding.

After more than two days of meeting, provincial health ministers and the federal health minister have been unable to come up with next steps on health care funding.

In a statement from the Council of the Federation, released while the ministers were still meeting, the organization representing premiers expressed disappointment with the lack of a federal response on the critical issue of sustainable health funding.

The provinces have been asking the federal government to agree to a meeting that would include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers.

The premiers say despite ‘repeated invitations’ and efforts by premiers to engage with the Prime Minister, he has not engaged in a meaningful dialogue.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix are both expected to have a press conference this afternoon.

Currently, the federal government covers 22 per cent of health care spending and the provinces are asking for this to increase to 35 per cent.

“Provinces and territories are working hard to improve the health services that Canadians rely on that have been under heavy strain through the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement from the Council of the Federation reads.

“Substantive resources are required to support and accelerate this essential work, and provinces and territories need a predictable federal funding partner.”