TORONTO – There have been “no serious negotiations” on the health accord with the federal government, Quebec’s Health Minister Gaetan Barrette said Monday as he prepared to meet his provincial and territorial counterparts in Toronto.
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins is hosting the discussions as the provinces and territories look at ongoing challenges, including an aging population, mental health and opioid addiction.
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The talks come ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with federal Health Minister Jane Philpott, when a frank debate is expected to play out about the rate of increase on federal health transfers.
The federal Liberals plan to apply a three-per-cent increase in April despite pushback from provinces including B.C., Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
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The current annual rate of increase for the federal health transfers is six per cent — a funding formula established in 2004 under the last health accord.
“It is huge disappointment because we are here as elected officials to represent people, real people with real needs,” Barrette said. “In health … it always starts with funding.”
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For her part, Philpott has spent the last number of weeks trying to dial down the discussion on the Canada Health Transfer, insisting it is a matter for finance officials to hammer out.
Instead, she wants health ministers to review how to make the current health-care system more effective, while ensuring financial accountability.
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Philpott has also made it clear the federal government plans to spend $3 billion on home care, including palliative care.
Barrette said Monday he is not impressed with the Liberal government’s approach.
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“Up until this point, it is a blatant no and that is not right in my view,” he said.
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“The health accord doesn’t exist at this point. I wouldn’t say it is at risk, I would say it has to be built and it is not built yet.”
The health accord is supposed to be an agreement to outline goals between the levels of government.
In a statement on Monday, the Canadian Medical Association said it believes a new accord is urgently needed so Canada’s publicly funded health-care system can meet needs and remain sustainable.
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