The federal government is promising to increase funding for the health system of Canada’s provinces and territories by $196.1 billion over the next 10 years as part of a long-awaited deal.
This new proposal includes both an increase in the Health Canada Transfer (CHT) and federal plans to sign bilateral agreements with each province and territory, taking into account the unique conditions for them.
This influx of funding is accompanied by the expectation that, in order to gain access to new federal funds, provincial and territorial governments will have to commit to new transparency and accountability requirements regarding the collection, exchange, use and provision of health information to Canadians.
Here’s what the federal government has proposed:
- Immediate nationwide and “unconditional” $2 billion increase in the transfer to Health Canada (CHT) to address urgent problems arising in pediatric hospitals, emergency departments and surgical centers;
- A five percent increase in CHT over the next five years due to annual replenishment;
- $25 billion. for 10 years, on bilateral deals with each province and territory, developed taking into account their health needs, but related to common priorities;
- $1.7 billion. for five years to promote an increase in the hourly wages of personal care workers and related professions;
- $150 million over five years for the Territorial Health Investment Fund to help cover medical travel and the cost of medical care in the North; and
- $2 billion. for 10 years to solve the access problems faced by indigenous peoples.
Neither Trudeau nor the prime ministers plan to leave today’s “working meeting” with ready deals. Now the premiers will have to decide how this plan will work in their jurisdiction.
