While the prime ministers continue to call for a meeting with the prime minister to discuss increased federal health care funding, Justin Trudeau said that will only happen “once there are outlines of what to expect.” a deal.”
“Right now, they still want all this money with no accountability and no tangible results. I have to say, that’s not what Canadians need. We’ll send more money, but we need to see real change, real results,” Trudeau said in a year-end conversation with CTV National News Chief and Senior Editor Omar Sachedina, which aired in full on May 31. December.
“I look forward to sitting down with them once the outlines of an agreement are drawn up,” the prime minister said.
While Trudeau has stated that the federal government is willing to send “billions of dollars more,” as he previously emphasized, that money will come with strings attached.
Prime Ministers have ramped up pressure for Trudeau to meet with them to discuss how the federal government is increasing Canada’s Health Delivery—moving federal funds into the province’s health care systems—to 35% from the current level. Current 22% of health insurance-cost of care.
This long-term but recently re-emphasized need comes as hospitals and healthcare facilities appear to be in a state of crisis, amid staff shortages and an increase in illness caused by the weather. cold plus long wait times and other difficulties to get adequate care.
“Right now, we are seeing that our healthcare systems are under strain, if not broken right across the country in many ways,” the prime minister said. “However, as the head of the Canadian Medical Association said this past summer, you can’t fix something by putting money into a broken system.”
However, this latest push by the prime ministers comes as several provinces are coming out of the pandemic with projected budget surpluses.
In the interview, Trudeau said he won’t sit at the table until there is a more concrete plan for provincial accountability. Even so, he noted that federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos continues to meet with his provincial counterparts to work towards this goal.
“When I talk to the nurses, doctors and frontline workers in our health care system, they all say: let’s make sure the provinces actually provide better care. in exchange for the money the federal government continues to send them. .And that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.
The prime minister said that while “nobody wants to see” the federal government fight the provinces over the issue: “if I’m not strong and say, ‘you have to fix your system, you can’t give up any more. money into it, ‘Canada won’t see those changes happen at the provincial level.”
You can watch the full interview with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on New Year’s Eve. A conversation with the prime minister hosted by CTV’s Omar Sachedina will be broadcast on December 31 at 7pm nationwide.
