London, Ont. – provinces will not sign individual deals with the federal government on health-care funding, Ontario Premier Doug Ford Said Friday.
Premiers and health ministers across the country have called on Ottawa to increase its share of health care costs from the current 22 per cent to 35 per cent.
Speaking at an announcement in London, Ontario, Ford said he always consults with the 12 other premiers on their push for more health funding.
Ford said, “It’s not going to be a one-off for Ontario versus anybody else.” “We all agree, all the premiers, we all have to work together and stay united and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
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He said earlier this month that Ontario was willing to accept some of the conditions attached to the increased Canada health transfer, as long as it included some “flexibility”.
Ford gave no indication whether a deal is close.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the funding increase will only happen if provinces agree to reform and improve their health care systems.
The premiers want to sit down with Trudeau as a group to sign an agreement, but that meeting has not yet taken place.
The last time the provinces and the federal government were negotiating an increase in health care transfers, the premiers were united until negotiations broke down and New Brunswick struck a bilateral agreement with Ottawa. Other provinces later followed suit.
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