$ 2 billion health transfers to Ottawa provinces | Corona virus

In fact, hundreds of thousands of selected surgeries have been canceled in the last two years.

These delays not only have an impact on people’s health in the short and long term, but also on the stress of families and loved ones. [ainsi que sur celui] Of our staffHealth Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said at a news conference Friday at the University of Ottawa.

Along with his colleagues Carolyn Bennett (mental health and addiction) and Kamal Kera (seniors) Mr. Douglas noted that this $ 2 billion would be provided once more to the provinces under the Canada Health Exchange.

Money is distributed according to the population of each and can be used unconditionally.

This $ 2 billion envelope comes directly from Bill C-17To (New window)To Filed Friday in Parliament by Deputy Prime Minister Christiaan Freeland. This continues 4 billion check Signed by Ottawa at the same time last year for similar reasons.

During the last election campaign last fall, the Liberals promised an immediate $ 6 billion investment to offset delays caused by the epidemic.

Over the past two years, provinces and territories have canceled hundreds of thousands of selected surgeries, for example many Canadians waiting for hip replacement surgery, cataract surgery or cancer treatment.

So that means transferring new sums to the provinces The hip replacement surgery that your mom or dad was expecting will no longer be postponedJean-Yves Douglas explained Friday. For many Canadians, today’s announcement will be a great relief.

Federal-provincial fighting on the horizon?

As Ottawa and the provinces prepare to begin talks on increased health relocations, Minister Douglas issued his invitation on Friday. His vision for the future of federal-provincial cooperation In the case.

The Trudeau government has established the following priorities: reducing the waiting list; Access to family medicine; Care for the elderly, including home care provided to them; Mental health and addiction; Digitalization of records and telemedicine.

The federal government may eventually require the provinces to spend new funds on these priority areas that have already been done in the past with agreements related to mental health and home care.

However, the Federal Council, which unites the chiefs of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, It has repeatedly stated that health transfers should be increased unconditionally for more than two years.

In this context, is a federal-provincial war expected? Minister Douglas said Friday that Canadians were not interested A legal dispute or tax or financial dispute About the money and talents of everyone between Ottawa and the provinces.

” If we do not act quickly and decisively, we must recognize that the long-term survival of the global, public health system that Canadians cherish is in jeopardy. ⁇

Patients waiting for surgery and families hoping to access family health services want resultsHe argued. Canadians are not interested in the sterile budget debate.

Elements of priorities given Friday Everyone agreesThe minister repeated this several times during the press conference.

Having said that, The Canadian government cannot pretend and does not attempt to micromanage health services at the provincial and regional levelsHe promised.

However, the opposition in Ottawa suspects that the Trudeau government will establish a framework for debate in its favor.

Conservative Vice President Luke Berthold believes in the Liberals Attempt to interfere in the jurisdiction of the provincesHe pointed out that none of them demanded Such a system sums.

The same story about Black Quebecois, who pointed out that the $ 450 million provided to Quebec is approximately 1% of its annual health expenditure. They Peanuts Also, it will not happen againVice Christine underscores Normandy.

” Already, by establishing “priorities”, it looks like conditions […]. Know, [le ministre] Comes with his big feet. ⁇

On Twitter, the office of Quebec Minister for Canadian Relations Sonia Labelin said Friday’s announcement reflected that. The first tentative measure of the federal government’s financial contribution to health care.

Our demand is for a continuous and unconditional increase in health transfers in CanadaHe went on to emphasize that this was a request Unanimously Of the National Assembly and of all Prime Ministers.

Health is Quebec’s jurisdiction and we have the expertise to take care of our health networkHealth and Social Services Minister Christian Dubey added on the same social network.

There is still a lot to doDuclos agrees

Provinces and territories argue that when public health care was created decades ago, the share of federal health care spending was far less than what it promised to pay.

Thus, Ottawa’s contribution would increase from 22% to 35% on system costs, representing about $ 28 billion a year, including $ 6 billion in Quebec.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said many times over the past two years that the epidemic environment will not give itself to such talks. But he also opened himself up to doing more to help the provinces, which was echoed by Minister Douglas on Friday.

While today’s announcement is great news, we know there is still a lot to do.He announced.

The minister, however, declined to say exactly how much money the provinces would receive at the end of the negotiations that were being prepared.

With information from Véronique Prince, CBC and The Canadian Press