Feds sweeten health-care deal with $10m for opioid crisis

After decrying Ottawa’s “divide and conquer” approach to health-care agreements, British Columbia signed its own side deal on Friday — to get extra cash for the drug-overdose crisis.

B.C. had been one of the most vocal critics of Ottawa’s strategy to pick off provinces one by one with special agreements, rather than negotiate across-the-board health transfers with all the provinces.

But B.C. officials said Friday they eventually decided to settle the feud because they wanted to present a united Canadian front in the softwood lumber trade dispute with the U.S.

Health Minister Terry Lake and his federal counterpart, Jane Philpott, announced the funding in Richmond.

“Ottawa has been a very tough negotiator,” said Lake. “I would be lying if we didn’t say we were hoping for more. But now we have this agreement and it’s time to get to work.”

The deal boosted B.C.’s federal health-care transfers by 4.4 per cent, including $786 million for home care services (which Ottawa had previously promised) and $655 million to support mental health programs. The funding is over 10 years.

“We know this kind of agreement and support will assist the government of British Columbia as they work to reduce wait times for mental health care and services, especially children and youth,” said Philpott, who added the money will also help seniors stay in their homes.

The deal also includes $10 million to help fight the opioid overdose crisis. Lake said B.C.’s budget, to be unveiled Tuesday, will add $5 million to the opioid task force.

B.C.’s coroner announced Friday that 116 people died from overdoses in January.