Moe says Ottawa has ‘no interest’ in being full funding partner on health care

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says it’s clear Ottawa has “no interest” in becoming a full funding partner on health care.

Moe’s comments follow a commitment the federal government made Tuesday to increase health-care spending by $46 billion over 10 years.

The premier has long been pushing for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to commit to covering 35 per cent of provincial health-care costs through transfer payments. Moe and other provincial leaders were hoping to see an immediate cash injection of $28 billion, followed by annual increases.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Moe expressed his displeasure with Ottawa’s offer.

“The details of the offer amount to a two per cent increase, and falls short in outlining a path forward for long-term, sustainable funding that all premiers have been calling for,” Moe wrote.

“Saskatchewan will be evaluating the proposal and having further discussions. The Council of the Federation is expected to meet again in the days to come.”

Moe called the offer “disappointing,” but said it will not stop Saskatchewan from pushing ahead with investments into the health-care system, particularly those aiming to address a shortage of doctors and other health-care workers.

“Our goal remains to provide the best possible health-care services to the people of Saskatchewan, in spite of the federal government’s lack of commitment to provide its share of health-care funding,” Moe said.

980 CJME asked to speak to Moe or either of the provincial health ministers about the federal government’s proposal and what it could mean for Saskatchewan.

The request was denied and 980 CJME was told any more comment would come from the premier at a news conference after the proposal is discussed at a Council of the Federation meeting in the coming days.

Heather Stefanson, Manitoba’s premier and chair of the Council of the Federation, also expressed her dismay at the lower-than-expected offer from Trudeau on Tuesday, saying premiers felt “a little disappointed” by the amount.

“Of course, it’s more money than it was yesterday,” Stefanson told reporters in Ottawa after Tuesday’s meeting, “but again, I think it’s a little disappointing in terms of the new money that was there.”

— With files from The Canadian Press