Feds reach health deals with three provinces

OTTAWA — The federal government’s charm offensive with provincial counterparts resulted Friday in three new bilateral health agreements, with Quebec, Ontario and Alberta signing the dotted line after months of heated negotiations with Ottawa.

Health Minister Jane Philpott confirmed the deals — which leave Manitoba as the only provincial holdout — with a wide grin and high-fives with fellow cabinet ministers during Friday’s question period in the House of Commons.

She later denied that the government used a “divide-andconquer” strategy against the premiers and their once-united front against planned reductions in annual health transfer payment increases.

“They have, in their own time, come to an agreement with us,” Philpott said.

Part of the new agreement with Alberta includes $6 million to help the province in its fight against an escalating opioid crisis. B.C., which reached a deal with the federal government in February, also received money to address this issue to the tune of $10 million.

On Friday in Saguenay, Que., Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard lauded Ottawa for acknowledging his province’s “distinct” character and accepting the “principle of asymmetry,” noting this will allow Quebec to use federal transfers as it sees fit.

“Since 2004 it’s been a major gain for Quebec, and this is still the case,” he said. “I think we can say it’s even been improved. My job will always be to make sure Quebec’s distinct character is recognized and highlighted in concrete fashion.”

Asked at a news conference Friday in Houston about the deals, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted the agreements were a victory for federalism and for Canadians.

“The fact that we have provinces who have agreed that making historic investments in home care and in mental health is important for our communities, for our families and our economic productivity, for our society, is a very big win,” he said.

At a meeting of health and finance ministers in December, the provinces and territories rejected a federal offer of $11 billion over 10 years for home care and mental health, as well as $544 million over five years for prescription drug and innovation initiatives.