Quebec, Ottawa reach deal on health transfers

Ottawa and Quebec announced a deal in principle on federal health transfers Tuesday, hours after the Parti Québécois called for a common front of provincial political parties to pressure the federal government.

The deal, confirmed by both governments, is worth $900 million a year over 10 years. Premier François Legault's office said it is asymmetrical and without conditions.

Legault had been pushing back on conditions Ottawa wanted to impose.

The federal government a little more than a year ago it would transfer an additional $196 billion to the provinces and territories for health care over 10 years. Quebec is the last province to sign on.

To receive the money earmarked for 2023-2024, Quebec must sign the agreement before the end of the month.

Earlier, PQ Leader Paul St-pierre Plamondon said Quebec was “at an impasse” in dealing with Ottawa on health funding and immigration and said a common front could “restore a minimum balance of power with Ottawa.”

The Coalition Avenir Québec rejected the PQ'S idea Tuesday, with Legault saying he intends to present a plan with his options on immigration “soon.”

Legault said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has an “obligation” to reduce the number of 528,000 temporary immigrants by their next in-person meeting, no later than June 30.

Interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay also rejected the common front, saying “a pilgrimage to Ottawa that includes a coffee with (the Bloc Québécois leader)” won't change much.

But Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-dubois said he was open to the idea.

During a meeting last Friday with Legault, Trudeau flatly refused to transfer full power over immigration to the province. He said Quebec already enjoys far more power over immigration than any other province or territory.

Under a 1991 agreement, Quebec controls the volume of entry of permanent residents and economic immigrants. Canada controls refugees and families.