(Ottawa) Federal Health Minister Mark Holland signed a $3.7 billion health deal with Quebec on Wednesday, meaning all 13 provinces and territories have now signed the new Ottawa health deal .
More than a year ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first presented to the provinces a new health funding agreement aimed at increasing federal health transfers and providing targeted assistance.
The offer came as premiers and health-care workers sounded the alarm about the failing state of Canada’s health-care systems.
In exchange for these funds, Ottawa requires provinces to report on how the money will be spent and measure whether these funds are improving health outcomes for Canadians.
Quebec was the only province not to sign the agreement in principle due to concerns about the sovereignty of its health data and that Ottawa was overstepping its jurisdiction.
Now that Ottawa has signed agreements with every province and territory, Holland says he will bring together his fellow health ministers in the coming weeks to discuss next steps.