Premiers put pre-budget pressure on Ottawa

With a federal budget in the offing, premiers are stepping up the pressure on Ottawa to increase annual health care transfer payments to provinces and territories.

The premiers are reiterating their unanimous demand that the federal government hike the transfer by $28 billion this year, and by five per cent more each year thereafter.

They argue the federal government shoulders only 22 per cent of the cost of health care; their demand would increase that share to 35 per cent.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that the federal share must eventually increase but he's told premiers that will have to wait until after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sent the federal deficit into the stratosphere.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister warns that a "post-pandemic pileup" is coming as elective surgeries, tests and other procedures that have been delayed during the pandemic get underway again.

The prime minister is presenting a false choice that until we are through #COVID19, we cannot address growing health-care wait times. @JustinTrudeau has said “now is not the time to address the issue.” I say, “when is a better time?” The time to act is NOW. #cdnpoli #mbpoli pic.twitter.com/nTGwyb0QvI

— Brian Pallister (@BrianPallister) March 4, 2021

The premiers argue they need stable, long-term, unconditional funding now to bolster the core health care system, which was under strain before the pandemic hit.