(Victoria) It is “very insulting” that the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, “refuses to meet with his vis-à-vis” the provinces and in addition transmits messages through the media, summed up Tuesday the first Quebec Minister, François Legault, during the closing conference of the Council of the Federation.
Posted at 12:22 a.m.
“It’s a bit insulting to delegate messages via Mr. Duclos, the federal health minister,” he said. First, how is it that there is a federal Minister of Health when this is an area of jurisdiction of the provinces and territories? »
It has been three years and “36 telephone meetings” with Mr. Trudeau that the premiers of the provinces and territories have been asking to sit down with him to discuss an increase in health transfers on a recurring and unconditional basis.
We are no longer able to continue to pay 78% [de la facture]. It seems to me that the message is clear.
Francois Legault
There has been unprecedented cooperation with the federal government during the pandemic, said British Columbia Premier John Horgan, who is chairing the meeting.
“And now, eight months later, we communicate through the media. Where did the love go? It was going so well. It’s upsetting,” he said as the curtain fell on a second and final day of talks, which are dominated by the health care crisis across the country.
Discontent across the country
The Trudeau government’s attitude is “rather dishonest,” added Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The premier of Prince Edward Island, Dennis King, meanwhile called for “putting aside this nonsense”.
Again on Tuesday, despite repeated calls from the provinces, the federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, still did not propose a date for the holding of negotiations with the provinces on an increase in health transfers.
In a public affairs program, the federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, said Tuesday that there will “of course” be conditions “attached” to an increase in health funding.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Francois Legault, Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, and Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta
He also hinted that unconditionally, provincial governments could use federal funds to cut spending, cut taxes or hand out “$500 checks,” a direct reference to a recent Quebec decision.
In response, Mr. Legault pointed out that the $500 is non-recurring and that “Quebecers pay more tax” than in other provinces in general.
While refusing conditions, the provinces assure that the funds would be spent on health. Alberta would be “absolutely” ready to offer a guarantee not to reduce its health spending in exchange for funding “if it is a federal condition”, has also argued Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.
Conditions must be presented in the context of the negotiations, not through a debate in the media. Canadians do not want political chicanery. […] At least, [que Justin Trudeau vienne] sit down with the premiers, discuss this idea.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney
Mr. Legault noted that “it is clear” that the provinces must spend more and more on health. “There is an aging population that causes spending growth to outpace income growth,” he said.
In a statement, the Canadian Public Health Coalition, an advocacy group, said it was disappointed with the lack of progress at the meeting. According to the Coalition, Ottawa must invest more and Premiers must ensure greater accountability and transparency with regard to the funds spent on health care.
According to the Bloc Québécois, Ottawa is trying to “shirk its responsibilities” and interfere in provincial jurisdictions. The New Democratic Party (NDP), for its part, demanded that the Trudeau government “immediately implement an action plan aimed at resolving the crisis in the Canadian health care system”.