Health Care Advocates Dismayed with Ottawa's Divide and Conquer Tactics

Hopes for a Canadian Health Accord Dashed as Provinces Sign Deals

Toronto/Ottawa/Edmonton:

The Ontario, Quebec and Alberta governments, which had initially held out for better, were compelled to sign onto a bilateral health funding deal with Ottawa today. In the federal election, the Trudeau government promised to break with the high-handed approach of the previous Harper government and negotiate a new Health Accord with the provinces and territories. Instead, after tabling a take-it-or-leave-it offer in December, Trudeau's government walked away from the table. It is now forcing through bilateral deals with each province, containing a funding level that is inadequate to meet the health care needs of Canadians and was rejected by the provinces and territories as inadequate in December. The scheme will reduce the federal government's share of health care funding over the next decade, reversing gains made in the 2004 Health Accord.