Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

PM holds firm on premiers' health-care demands

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Mar, 2021 08:29 PM
  • PM holds firm on premiers' health-care demands

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will keep its spending focus on emergency aid and won't talk about hiking long-term health-care funding until after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

He says Ottawa needs to keep supporting those hit hard financially by the pandemic, having sent billions in aid to businesses and individuals, as well as to provinces.

Speaking at a midday press conference, Trudeau said that short-term outlook can't yet give way to longer-term concerns about the effect COVID-19 is having on the Canada's provincially run health-care systems.

On Thursday, the country's premiers reiterated their demand for a handsome increase in the unconditional transfer payments the federal government sends provinces and territories each year for health care.

But Trudeau held firm on Friday, telling reporters he wouldn't yet negotiate on long-term health care funding.

"As we get through this pandemic, and once we're on the other side, it is obvious that there will be a need for greater financing of health care in this country, including through the Canada Health Transfer," Trudeau said.

"As I've said to premiers, we will be there to increase those transfers. But that conversation needs to happen once we are through this pandemic because right now, the supports we're giving to Canadians are the ones that are needed to get through this pandemic."

The federal government this year will transfer to the provinces nearly $42 billion for health care, under an arrangement that sees the amount rise by at least three per cent each year.

Premiers argue that amount doesn't keep pace with yearly cost increases of about five per cent, which would mean Ottawa would have to add $28 billion this year to cover just over one-third of national costs, and about $4 billion annually thereafter.

Quebec Premier François Legault, chair of the premiers' council, stressed Thursday that the pandemic-related expenses Ottawa has incurred are one-time costs.

One they roll off, he argued, federal finances could recover over time and end in far better shape over the long run than provinces mired in debt.

In late November, Finance Department officials tried to estimate how much more provinces had spent on health care during the pandemic in a briefing note to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

The figures in the back of the briefing note, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, suggested the pandemic had by the fall added hundreds of millions in costs for some provinces, subject to a giant asterisk.

Officials cautioned that information on the short-term impacts of the pandemic on health-care spending was "scarce."

The briefing pointed to a study by the Conference Board of Canada that estimated health care costs due to COVID-19 were in a range of $20.1 billion and $26.9 billion in the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

“Longer-term cost projections vary greatly and will depend largely on the evolution of the pandemic and vaccine development and administration,” officials wrote.

MORE National ARTICLES

Winter supply of Chinook important to orcas: study

Winter supply of Chinook important to orcas: study
All 14 stocks of chinook salmon that are preferred by whales are threatened, he said. These fish would move in and out of inshore waters at different times of the year and ensure a steady supply of food for the orcas.

Winter supply of Chinook important to orcas: study

B.C. targets gun violence in new legislation

B.C. targets gun violence in new legislation
Farnworth, who is also public safety minister, says in a statement the majority of gun owners in B.C. abide by the law and the legislation will have little impact on them.

B.C. targets gun violence in new legislation

542 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

542 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
“Of the active cases, 246 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 64 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation“. 

542 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

Teachers call for stronger safety measures from PHO as WorkSafe BC reports 250% spike in COVID19 claims

Teachers call for stronger safety measures from PHO as WorkSafe BC reports 250% spike in COVID19 claims
Workers in public school districts have the third highest number of compensation claims, only behind workers in long-term care and acute care settings.

Teachers call for stronger safety measures from PHO as WorkSafe BC reports 250% spike in COVID19 claims

B.C. top doctor appreciated charter rights: lawyer

B.C. top doctor appreciated charter rights: lawyer
In a hearing over a petition challenging Dr. Bonnie Henry's health orders, Gareth Morley told the B.C. Supreme Court that Henry has outlined the reasons for her orders both verbally in public briefings and in writing.

B.C. top doctor appreciated charter rights: lawyer

Police investigate shooting in Newton

Police investigate shooting in Newton
Investigators believe that this was not a random incident. The person who was targeted in this shooting is known to police.

Police investigate shooting in Newton