Furey, Trudeau to discuss cost of living, health, climate
Premier Andrew Furey and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet for about 30 minutes on Tuesday, May 17, while Trudeau is in St. John’s for the royal visit by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Furey told reporters at Confederation Building on Monday he has a few things he’d like to discuss during the meeting.
“My plan is to discuss with him in general the cost of living, and the role the federal government plays in navigating the inflation pressures that face the country — not just the people of the province, but the country,” said Furey.
“I also plan to discuss with him climate change, and our role in the time of transition, including the continued use of our petroleum products here, as we should be the preferred product during this time of transition.
“And, hopefully, have a conversation regarding … the Canada health transfer and why that’s incredibly important right now as we come out of this pandemic. We all know that the health-care system has been underfunded nationally for quite a period of time, and I know that the prime minister understands that, I know that he wants to move forward with this, and (I’m) looking forward to having that conversation about that.”
Nationally, the provinces have been calling on the federal government to increase the federal transfer of funds for health care to cover rising costs.
Specifically, provinces are calling on the federal government to increase its share of provincial-territorial healthcare costs through the Canada health transfer to 35 per cent, or 35 cents on every dollar spent by provinces.
Currently, the federal share of health-care spending is 22 per cent, down from 50 per cent since 1960.
Furey said the health-care system needs an infusion.
Saltwire Network asked whether he is frustrated with the pace of getting those funds from the feds.
“Of course,” he said. “Everybody is frustrated when it comes to the flow of money. Who isn’t? But I think the prime minister is very thoughtful on how the federal government should position itself, and certainly as a collective group of premiers, we are. And, look, at the end of the day we all want the same thing, and that’s about driving better outcomes for Canadians.”
Trudeau and Furey will also hold a news conference today at 10:15 a.m. at a childcare facility, according to Trudeau’s official itinerary.
REDUCE GAS TAXES: PCS
The Opposition says Furey should ask Trudeau for one thing specifically: permission to reduce gas taxes.
“The premier needs to tell the prime minister that we’re going to reduce our gas tax, and if he needs the permission of the prime minister to do that, then he should get that (permission) because these are extraordinary times, and whether it’s a temporary reprieve for a few months, it needs to happen,” Progressive Conservative finance critic Tony Wakeham told reporters.
Finance Minister Siobhan Coady has previously said if the province decreases the provincial gas tax — which is 14.5 cents per litre — the feds could slap carbon taxes on home heating oil. Coady said that’s because the province made an agreement with the feds that the province wouldn’t lower its gas tax in exchange for the feds agreeing not to apply the carbon tax to home heating fuel, or to certain industries, such as the fishery and forestry.
As for the cost of living, the Opposition routinely says the government needs to offer more for people than its $22.2-million, five-point plan announced in March.
On Monday, the Tories said they will not let the House of Assembly close for the summer until Coady introduces further, immediate measures to address the rising cost of living.
In an email, the NDP caucus said it supports any debate that leads to meaningful supports for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.