ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Atlantic premiers are calling for a new deal that would see Ottawa pay 25 per cent of provincial health care costs.
They say Ottawa's share of health care spending is about 20 per cent and isn't keeping pace with growing expenses.
"We have concerns about the base funding because we're not keeping up with the cost of health care in terms of the needs of the people of the country, and particularly our provinces," said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale.
"We're saying that we believe, as a principle, that there should be equitable health care across this country."
She met Monday in St. John's, N.L., with the premiers of Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and New Brunswick.
They say they want to present a strong, united front as they prepare for talks with Ottawa to renew health and social funding transfer agreements that expire on March 31, 2014.
They're pushing for a new health deal based on current transfer allocations, but with additional funding to reflect their priorities and a six-per-cent yearly escalator for each province. They stressed that extra health cash should not be offset by possible reductions to other transfer arrangements.
The federal government will send almost $58 billion to the provinces and territories this fiscal year for health, education and social programs. Payments in cash and tax points are made through the Canada Health Transfer and the Canada Social Transfer.
Dunderdale and her Atlantic counterparts said the annual six per cent health care funding escalator that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has promised to maintain until 2016 is not enough.
It's an increase that is applied to the entire pot of federal money from which each province gets a share, she said.
"And we see the ability of that escalator to keep up with climbing costs to be eroding as well."
In a 2002 report as part of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, Roy Romanow said Ottawa should never pay less than 25 per cent of the cost of insured medical services under the Canada Health Act.
Dunderdale said Monday that in her province, Ottawa's share of health care funding next year will be about 15 per cent or $430 million of a nearly $3 billion health tab.
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter said talk of a yearly health care increase from Ottawa is sowing confusion.
"People hear about a six-per-cent escalator and they assume that the provinces are continuing to get more money."
That's not the case, he stressed, as the regional costs of caring for smaller and older populations outstrip annual increases.
Dunderdale and Dexter met with P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz and New Brunswick Premier David Alward as they prepare to gather with other premiers in January at the Council of the Federation meeting in Victoria.
