In a letter of which Radio-Canada obtained a copy, the federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, asks his provincial counterparts to present their respective action plans describing how the funds will be spent, in addition to existing expenses
.
Ottawa also wants the provinces to reveal their targets for improving health care and how progress will be measured and reported to [leurs] residents
before the sums promised by Ottawa are transferred to them.
These signed commitments are necessary so you can access your share of funding, including the Canada Health Transfer increase [TCS]
which must increase at least 5% annually over the next five years.
Ottawa has pledged to pay 46 billion new dollars over 10 years to the provinces, including 17 billion for the increase in the TCS and $25 billion to fund common priorities through bilateral agreements.
A warning
Jean-Yves Duclos also issued a warning to the provinces that could be tempted to use federal money for needs other than health.
« Canadians expect provinces and territories not to reduce their investments in health care as a result of federal investments. »
For its part, Ontario has also presented its demands to the federal government. In a letter to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Doug Ford calls for health funding agreements between Ottawa and the provinces to be reviewed every five years.
The Federal Minister of Health says in favor of carrying out a five-year review
which would affect both the TCS and the new bilateral agreements that Ottawa intends to sign with the provinces.
The priority files of these agreements relate in particular to health services for families, support for health care workers, access to mental health and addiction services as well as the modernization of the system thanks to digital tools.
Besides, a wider list of proposed indicators in each priority area
will be provided by Ottawa to the provinces in the coming days.
