Provinces call again for increased federal health funding

(Quebec) The provincial premiers have once again asked the Trudeau government to increase federal health transfers to the provinces and territories.

Charles Lecavalier
The Press

“We’ve been making the same request for two years without really getting results, in terms of long-term funding. […] It is not a subject that is easy to explain to the population, but it is ultimately the population who must support us, ”said Premier François Legault on Friday, during a joint press briefing by the premiers. on the sidelines of a meeting of the Council of the Federation.

They are asking Ottawa to increase the federal contribution to the provincial health budgets from 22% to 35%. For Ottawa, this would mean annual disbursements of $28 billion to the provinces. For Quebec, this would mean an increase in federal transfers of $6 billion per year.

“Quebecers pay 40% of their taxes in Ottawa, and health is a top priority. It is not acceptable that Ottawa finances only 22% of the budget. But these are numbers, it’s not easy to explain, ”said Mr. Legault.

According to a Léger poll commissioned by the Council of the Federation, nearly 85% of Canadians believe that it is “urgent” for Ottawa to increase its share of health funding.