Ottawa –
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said he and his provincial health minister privately agree on what needs to be done to improve health care, subject to an agreement from Ottawa to provide more funding , the key lies in the governor.
Negotiations between federal and provincial politicians have stalled amid a backdrop of overwhelmed pediatric hospitals and burnt-out health care workers putting the Canadian system in crisis.
The provinces and territories have called for an increase in the Canada Health Transfer, the main source of federal money flowing into provincial health systems, but the prime minister said that will only happen if the provinces agree to reform and improve those systems.
Duclos met provincial and territorial health ministers last month and said they had a consensus on what needed to be done, but the premiers refused to sign off.
The premiers said they could not agree on a deal until they met collectively with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who would not commit to a meeting.
Duclos said he was sure health ministers would be able to reach a deal if the governor allowed it.
The Canadian Press report was first published on December 14, 2022.