Health transfers: Couillard insists on a meeting with Trudeau

While negotiations between Ottawa and the provinces on the federal health transfers issue are stalled, Philippe Couillard requires that a summit with his counterparts and Justin Trudeau be held.

“We must have a meeting with the Prime Minister. If you ask the citizens (…) what the issue that concerns our people most is, health will always be the answer and clearly, we must revise our current ways as well as the level of funding, “said Mr. Couillard on Friday in Toronto, alongside the Prime minister of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne.

Earlier this week, the province ministers banded together at a meeting with their federal vis-à-vis, Jane Philpott. They demanded in vain that Ottawa maintain the 6% increase in federal health transfers, rather than reduce it to 3%, as announced by the Harper government. Provinces also refuse that Ottawa attaches conditions to funding health.

“For the health ministers, the work is done. The finance ministers can work. But ultimately, it’s always been a decision that was taken or solved at the prime ministers’ table, “argued Mr. Couillard.

“So, I ask Mr. Trudeau once again to set a date for a meeting about health issues. If he cannot do so immediately, then I ask that he extend the current funding for one year, as the Council of the Federation has requested. It seems imperative that this meeting takes place, “added the Quebec Premier.
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