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Doug Ford says premiers are united in push for more health funding from Ottawa

Ontario Premier Doug Ford makes an announcement on health care in the province with Health Minister Sylvia Jones in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Health-care workers from across Canada could soon start practising in Ontario more quickly under legislation the government plans to introduce next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn. ROY

LONDON, Ont. — The provinces won’t be signing individual deals on health-care funding with the federal government, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday.

Premiers and health ministers across the country have called on Ottawa to increase its share of health-care costs to 35 per cent, up from the current 22 per cent.

Speaking at an announcement in London, Ont., Ford said he always consults with the 12 other premiers on their push for more health funding.

“It’s not going to be a one-off for Ontario another for someone else,” Ford said. “We’ve all agreed, all the premiers, we all have to work together and stay united and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

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He said earlier this month that Ontario is willing to accept some strings attached to an increased Canada Health Transfer, as long as there is some “flexibility” included.

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Ford did not give any indication of whether a deal is close.

Click to play video: 'Canada close to health-care deal with provinces amid ongoing crisis: Duclos'
Canada close to health-care deal with provinces amid ongoing crisis: Duclos

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the funding increase will only happen if the provinces agree to reform and improve their health-care systems.

The premiers want to sit down as a group with Trudeau to hammer out an agreement, but that meeting has not yet happened.

The last time the provinces and federal government were negotiating an increase to health care transfers, the premiers were united until talks broke down and New Brunswick made a bilateral deal with Ottawa. Other provinces later followed suit.

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