Scheer vows to hike health, social payments to provinces
OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is putting Canada’s money where his mouth is, promising to increase health and social transfer payments by at least three per cent every year, should he become prime minister.
In a letter to provincial and territorial premiers released Thursday, Scheer said he wants to spell out his commitment in writing because he anticipates his opponents will misrepresent his position on health-care funding once next month’s federal election campaign gets underway.
“I want you to have my word in writing that I will maintain and increase that funding,” he wrote.
Millions of Canadians rely on the public health-care system, be it for mundane check-ups or more momentous life events such as the birth of a child, life-saving treatments and caring for aging parents, said Scheer.
Canadians count on education, social assistance, early-learning, child care and other programs supported by the Canada Social Transfer, and Canadians count on stable and predictable federal dollars, he added. “Stable federal funding is important to ensure a quality public health care system in your province.”
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor did not immediately respond to Scheer’s letter, but NDP health critic Don Davies said no one seriously expects to see a Scheer government enhance health care in Canada.
Health care costs increase by more than three per cent a year, yet neither the previous Conservative government nor the current Liberal one have managed to ensure federal transfers keep up, Davies said.