'Very constructive conversations': Is Trudeau closer to a health deal with provinces?
In recent days, some premiers have voiced optimism about reaching a deal soon with the federal government over increasing health-care funding, something Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he still wants tied to improved outcomes before the money rolls out of Ottawa.
During his year-end interview with Chief Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV National News Omar Sachedina, Trudeau said that while the federal government was willing to send "billions more" he wouldn't pull up a chair at the table until there's a more concrete plan for provincial accountability.
The prime minister said at the time this was because he wasn’t willing to just put money into a "strained, if not broken" system without assurances it would result in better care.
With some premiers now signalling a willingness to agree to conditions in exchange for more money, are the federal and provincial governments getting closer to an agreement?
Here's what premiers and the prime minister have said this week.
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU
"I've had some very constructive conversations with premiers, including premier Ford and premier Legault. Our ministers and their counterparts are working very closely, and I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to come to an agreement soon," Trudeau told reporters during a press conference on Thursday. "We know that Canadians deserve better health-care services, and the federal government will be there to support."
The prime minister also offered examples of potential outcomes provinces would be accountable for, such as better access to family doctors, shorter wait times for accessing mental health services, or reducing the backlog for important surgeries.
Coming out of the meeting with Francois Legault Trudeau referenced late last year, the Quebec premier indicated he was "more optimistic" than he was previously about reaching a deal with the federal government after his conversation with Trudeau.
ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG FORD
On Thursday, Ford told reporters that he believes in "sticking with" other premiers, and that he's recently been in talks with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson—who is also the chair of the Council of the Federation—about getting "a fair deal" for all provinces and territories.
"We want a deal but we need to sit down with the federal government and the prime minister and really have a talk across the table… I'm still confident we're going to get a deal. I really am," said the Ontario premier.
"I'm very, very confident. So we're going to keep working at it," Ford continued. "And I'm sure all of us will be out making an announcement, hopefully sooner than later."
ALBERTA PREMIER DANIELLE SMITH
In an interview on CTV News Channel's Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Monday, Smith said she has no issue with the federal government wanting strings attached to a funding increase.
"I'm working on accountability measures right now. I want more accountability from the health-care system," she said.
However, her preference would be to have a federal partner that trusts the premiers to know how to best manage their provinces' health pressure points.
For now, Smith also indicated that she won't be waiting for federal money to reform her province’s health-care system because in her view the federal government has been "pretty clear they are not coming to the table."
NOVA SCOTIA PREMIER TIM HOUSTON
Houston, who came into office after campaigning almost singularly on fixing the provinces health-care system, is currently facing considerable scrutiny over the recent deaths of two women following lengthy waits in Nova Scotia hospital emergency rooms.
In an interview on CTV News Channel's Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Tuesday, Houston said he knows there is a lot of work to be done to improve his provinces' health-care system, and doing so will take "a lot of money."
While like Smith, Houston said he isn't waiting around for more federal dollars to be put on the table, he'd still like to see Trudeau come to the table to talk about what commitments he needs before a deal can be reached.
"It's not about us not wanting to be held accountable. I've looked the federal government in the eye and said, 'look, we're held accountable every single day,'" he said.
"There's no more being held accountable than then facing the tragedy that we're facing now. There's no more evidence of the work that needs to be done. So… let's have that meeting. Let's talk about how we can work together."
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR PREMIER ANDREW FUREY
On Friday, in an interview on CTV News Channel's Power Play with Joyce Napier, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey offered a more tepid response to the question of whether he'd be on side with accepting federal funding with strings attached.
"I think that that's simplistic in the approach, I think there is the ability to have shared priorities while preventing jurisdictional creep. I think some of the issues that other premiers and I frankly share because I don't think the federal government has the desire nor the agency to run a health-care system," Furey said.
Both federal and provincial governments should be accountable when it comes to how taxpayers' money is being spent, the premier said.
"I've always just wanted the discussion, the conversation, because I can tell you as a provider myself, having sat on the other side of the gurney and delivered bad news, never once in the thousands of patients I've dealt with, has anyone ever asked who's paying for this federal government or the provincial government," Furey said.
Though, Furey shared Ford's optimism that should both sides come together, a deal could be reached "very quickly,” while noting that rebuilding Canadian health-care systems will not be a quick fix.
"If there was a quick fix—even if it was just monetary—other jurisdictions would have done it already. We need to reimagine a health-care system that Canadians have trust in, have faith in, believe in, and are proud of. And, I think we can achieve that together so that we're not anchored in a system that was designed for the 1960s and being delivered in 2023."
HOW DID THE TWO SIDES GET HERE?
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, front right, is flanked by his provincial counterparts as he listens to a question during a news conference without federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos after the second of two days of meetings, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, front right, is flanked by his provincial counterparts as he listens to a question during a news conference without federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos after the second of two days of meetings, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A longstanding call, in recent months premiers have been ramping up pressure for Trudeau to meet with them to discuss the federal government increasing the Canada Health Transfer—which funnels federal dollars into provincial health-care systems—to 35 per cent up from the current 22 per cent of coverage for health-care costs.
This recently re-emphasized demand comes as hospitals and health-care facilities appear to be in crisis mode, between staffing shortages and a cold-weather surge of illnesses compounding extended wait times and other struggles to access adequate care. The latest push for a funding increase came even as some provinces are sitting on budget surpluses.
In November, a meeting between Duclos and provincial health ministers ended in acrimony after the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement to boost health funding. Duclos put the blame for the breakdown on the premiers, who he said did not want to accept conditions in exchange for more federal money.
WHAT FORMER PREMIERS THINK IS NEXT
During Thursday's "Front Bench" panel on CTV News Channel's Power Play with Vassy Kapelos, a trio of former premiers weighed in on where things stand and what they anticipate is about to unfold.
"They'll get to an agreement, I have no doubt about it," said former British Columbia premier Christy Clark. "They'll decide to spend a bunch more money, there will be no way to keep track of it as if there ever is. So, they can attach as many strings as they want. I mean, it's really kind of a hopeless, never ending circle of the blame game. More money, no accountability, more blame, and the circle keeps going around and around."
Former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne said there have been strings attached on past money put into the health-care system, but with different levels of distrust of Trudeau among premiers she said she wouldn’t be surprised to see Ottawa try to initially negotiate bilateral agreements with some provinces.
"Maybe there'll be a unified front, but I would be very surprised if there weren't some initial agreements between the federal government and a province, or a couple of provinces, and then you'll see everybody come on side, that's what I would predict would happen," Wynne said.
Former Nova Scotia premier Darrell Dexter echoed Wynne in saying that he certainly felt accountable for health-care outcomes when he was in the premier's office. He said Trudeau's approach when it comes to the rate of increase of the Canada Health Transfer has not been dissimilar to that of the former Conservative government under Stephen Harper.
"And so it's been that way for now more than a decade and you know, the health-care funding could use a serious reset," Dexter said.
The former premiers agreed that the status quo is unsustainable and right now may be the time for both the provinces and the federal government to show leadership and get serious about wholesale changes to the system, while being mindful about Canadians' expectations that publicly-funded health care is upheld across the country.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
'Mr. Trump doesn't worry us', says Canadian ambassador
As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues the 'Team Canada' charm offensive to U.S. lawmakers and business leaders, Canada's ambassador to the United States downplayed the effect of another Trump presidency on Canada.
WATCH Why today's inflation numbers are good if you have a mortgage
New inflation data is 'welcome news' for consumers and an economist says it could signal the possibility for a interest rate cut as several core measures also continue to ease.
'Miscommunication' Liberals say of Speaker Fergus event invite Conservatives call partisan
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus is facing fresh Conservative-led calls to resign, this time over "very partisan" and 'inflammatory' language used – the Liberals say mistakenly – to promote an upcoming event.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Loblaw boycott organizers say they plan to keep movement going past May
The organizers of a month-long boycott of Loblaw-owned stores say they've decided to extend the boycott past May.
Trump campaign calls 'The Apprentice' 'blatantly false,' director offers to screen it for him
Donald Trump's reelection campaign called 'The Apprentice,' a film about the former U.S. president in the 1980s, 'pure fiction' and vowed legal action following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But director Ali Abbasi is offering to privately screen the film for Trump.
Local Spotlight
Beyond books: Halifax libraries lends instruments, sports equipment, memory kits and more
Public libraries in Atlantic Canada are now lending a broader range of items.
'A special bird': The unbreakable bond between purple martins and humans
Flashes of purple darting across the sky mixed with the serenading sound of songs will be noticed more with spring in full force in Manitoba.
7-year-old Pokémon prodigy heading to Hawaii for world championship tournament
Catching 'em all with impressive speed, a 7-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont. who only started his competitive Pokémon journey seven months ago has already levelled up to compete at a world championship level.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
From DVDs to rehearsals: Halifax theatre company transforms Video Difference building into arts hub
2b Theatre recently moved into the old Video Difference building, seeking to transform it into an artistic hub, meeting space, and temporary housing unit for visiting performers in Halifax.
'Another pair of eyes watching over me:' How a B.C. woman's service dog saved her from drowning
A B.C. woman says her service dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.
Starbucks fan on decades-long journey to visit every store in the world
A Starbucks fan — whose name is Winter — is visiting Canada on a purposeful journey that began with a random idea at one of the coffee chain's stores in Texas.
'Sacred work': Sask. First Nation learning how to conduct its own underground searches
Members of Piapot First Nation, students from the University of Winnipeg and various other professionals are learning new techniques that will hopefully be used for ground searches of potential unmarked grave sites in the future.
'It could mean a cure': Cautious optimism for groundbreaking ALS research at Western
ALS patient Mathew Brown said he’s hopeful for future ALS patients after news this week of research at Western University of a potential cure for ALS.