B.C. premier keeping an 'open mind' on eve of historic health summit in Ottawa
For more than two years, Canada’s premiers have been asking for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss a new healthcare funding model – and on Tuesday the group will finally get two hours of face time in Ottawa.
“We’re not coming into this discussion with any red lines. We’re coming in with an open mind and want to see what the Prime Minister is going to present,” British Columbia Premier David Eby said.
“Our core goal here is to make sure British Columbians have the healthcare they deserve and that we have a federal partner that’s there for British Columbians as well.”
The premiers have been asking Ottawa to increase its share of the Canada Health Transfer from 22 percent to 35 percent.
Trudeau has signalled he will propose a substantial increase at the meeting but has not offered specific numbers.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, who sits as the chair of the Council of the Federation made up of all 13 provincial and territorial premiers, expressed frustration the proposal was not shared with premiers in advance of the meeting.
“If we had had it ahead of time we probably could have had a more fulsome discussion tomorrow. There’s no question about that,” said Stefanson.
CTV News has learned there will likely be two components in the proposal offered by the federal government.
The first will include an increase to the CHT – but exactly how much has not been revealed.
The second component will include 13 separate bi-lateral deals negotiated to the specific needs of each jurisdiction.
It is within those bi-lateral deals that the feds are expected to lay out their demands for concessions from the provinces and territories as conditions for increased funding.
“The division between the bi-lateral piece and the health transfer is going to be a key part of the discussion around the table for the premiers. For British Columbia what we are looking for is a federal partner that’s there for us on the core healthcare system,” said Eby.
“But we are also looking at expansion of the health-care system, especially around mental health and addiction, around our home care and supporting seniors with long-term care.”
Monday evening, the premiers met behind closed doors for a strategy session on the historic meeting, but whether they can present a united front while each negotiating their own deals with Ottawa remains to be seen -- although Eby is optimistic.
“All the premiers have been working together to get the prime minister to the table to have these discussions,” he said.
Stefanson has indicated she does not expect any final agreements to be signed at the meeting but hopes it will bring about significant progress in the effort to improve Canadian healthcare.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.