Health-care deal coming shortly: Ford

‘Premier hopes for agreement soon after meeting with Trudeau: ‘We can’t keep dragging this on’

OTTAWA Premiers have expressed optimism about striking an improved national health funding deal with the federal government, ahead of next week’s meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said in Ottawa Wednesday that he believed the federal government would present the provinces and territories with details of a health transfer agreement that could lead to a national deal, but he was open to side talks specific to B.C.

These could include discussions about mental health and addictions treatment programs, increasing the numbers of family doctors and expanding home care.

“We’ll be talking about core funding for the provinces, but with the ability for provinces to have discussions with the federal government about key areas of provincial priority,” he said.

“I am convinced that B.C.’s priorities are not necessarily the same as Quebec’s or Nova Scotia’s or Newfoundland’s.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also said Wednesday he was hopeful the provinces could reach a health-care deal with the federal government after next Tuesday’s meeting with the prime minister.

Last month, Ford said the provinces wouldn’t be signing individual deals with Ottawa.

Premiers and health ministers across the country have called on Ottawa to increase its share of health-care costs to 35 per cent, up from the current 22 per cent.

Trudeau has said the funding will come with strings attached, including sharing health data and outcomes for a national database.

Eby said the prime minister did not provide financial specifics for the health funding talks next week during a 45-minute meeting with him on Wednesday.

“He said he’s going to be bringing forward a very clear and understandable proposal for the premiers,” said Eby.

The meeting also included discussion about the importance of health data to provide accountability for the funding for both the federal and provincial governments, Eby said. The B.C. premier is also scheduled to meet with Ford on Thursday in Toronto.

Ford echoed Trudeau’s recent comments that a deal will not be signed at the Feb. 7 meeting.

“But we should be striking a deal shortly thereafter,” said Ford in Brampton, Ont.

“We can’t keep dragging this on when we’re all feeling pressure on health care,” he said.

Ford has said he wants to use increased federal funding to hire more nurses and doctors, as well as help to tackle the surgical backlog.

Quebec Premier François Legault said he was looking forward to the health talks.

“We hope to have good news,” he said.

Ford has said he wants to use increased federal funding to hire more nurses and doctors