'Need some flexibility': Sask. premier in Ottawa for health meetings
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe flew to Ottawa on Sunday ahead of the first ministers meeting regarding healthcare funding scheduled for this week.
Speaking with reporters at Regina’s airport, Moe said he would like to see the federal government adapt to the unique needs each province and territory will have.
“In order to address the challenges that are similar but often different across the nation we are going to need some flexibility across Canada in how we are going to invest those dollars,” Moe said.
Moe also recognized that this meeting will more than likely be strictly financial negotiations.
Provincial and territorial leaders have expressed a desire to see healthcare transfer funding increased to 35 per cent from the current 22, an increase of about $28 billion.
Moe said he did not have any details as to what kind of offer may come from Ottawa, but added they have some indication that some funding may go to the Canada Health Transfer while some may go into some prioritized envelope funding.
“More [money] in the Canada Health Transfer is I think ideal from a premier’s perspective most certainly, that is the way that healthcare funding has traditionally been allocated by the federal government,” Moe said.
Moe said he feels if the unanimous funding increase request was made by the feds it would make them a fair funding partner in healthcare.
“I think what we’ll see is an offer and then there will be some ongoing negotiations and discussions with the federal government and provinces on what bilateral deals might look like,” Moe said.
Moe said if the offer isn’t at the number requested from Canada’s 13 premiers it would mean there is more work to do.
“Maybe we would consider this a down payment then on future work and future discussions that the provinces can have with this administration or maybe a different one,” Moe said.
More details to come…
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.