OTTAWA - Health ministers from Atlantic Canada say the future formula for federal health transfers should be calculated based on the number of seniors who live in a province.
The issue of federal health funding is expected to be a main topic at the provincial and territorial premiers' meeting, which starts today in Whitehorse.
The provinces are negotiating a new health accord with the federal government with premiers calling on Ottawa to cover at least 25 per cent of provincial health costs.
But even an agreement among provinces on a health-transfer funding formula could be a challenge because of demographic differences across the country.
New Brunswick Health Minister Victor Boudreau says populations in Atlantic Canada are aging faster than other regions, which adds to health-care costs.
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister John Haggie says a straight per-capita funding formula hits Atlantic provinces harder than others regions unless age is a factor in determining the payments.
