‘Ball is in premiers’ court’ to accept Ottawa health-care funding deal, Duclos says – National | 24CA News
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and his provincial counterparts agree privately on what must be carried out to enhance well being care, the federal minister mentioned Wednesday, however he argues “the ball is in the premiers’ court” to just accept a deal for extra funding from Ottawa.
Talks between federal and provincial politicians have stalled towards a backdrop of overwhelmed pediatric hospitals and health-worker burnout that has plunged Canada’s system right into a disaster.
Provinces and territories have demanded a rise to the Canada Health Transfer, which is the primary supply of federal funds that circulate into provincial well being methods, however the prime minister says that can occur provided that the provinces conform to reform and enhance these methods.
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Duclos met with provincial and territorial well being ministers final month in British Columbia, and he says they achieved consensus about what must be carried out, however premiers have refused to log off.
“We agree on all the problems and the solutions to those problems. We were in total agreement in Vancouver in private,” Duclos advised reporters Wednesday.
“The problem is that premiers don’t want us to speak of those outcomes and those results. They want to maintain a futile fight on dollars.”
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson mentioned Wednesday the federal minister’s feedback had been “inaccurate.”
“The Canada Health Transfer wasn’t even on the agenda when health ministers met last month. He gave media sound bites outside the meeting, but came with no actual proposals of any kind. Those are the facts,” Stefanson mentioned in an emailed assertion.
She mentioned Canadians are bored with “federal games” and repeated the premiers’ request for a gathering with the prime minister.
Provincial premiers say they can not agree on a deal till they sit down as a bunch with Justin Trudeau. The prime minister won’t decide to such a gathering, preferring as a substitute to speak with premiers one-on-one.
“We welcome further details of a federal proposal to anchor and advance substantive dialogue and meaningful progress,” the premiers wrote in a joint letter to the prime minister as a part of a gathering request.
Trudeau reiterated his stance on the negotiations and well being care usually Wednesday on his method into the ultimate House of Commons query interval earlier than the vacation break.
“We’re all worried about the state of health care in this country, and that’s why I’m going to continue to push on provinces to deliver real results for Canadians,” Trudeau mentioned.
“We’ll be there with investments, but we need to make sure that they’re helping Canadians get family doctors, end up off wait lists and into treatment.”
Duclos says he’s certain the well being ministers can be in a position attain an settlement — if premiers enable it.
“We know we’ll get to a an agreement on outcomes at some point,” Duclos mentioned. “We need premiers to let us do that work.”
© 2022 The Canadian Press
