Sask. premier ‘optimistic’ about health funding talks with feds

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Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says it isn’t clear what will be on the table during this week’s health care meetings between the provincial and federal governments, but he is “optimistic” about the trip.

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Speaking in Regina on Sunday before flying to Ottawa, Moe said the provinces are feeling positive a deal can be reached that will appease all the parties. Each of Canada’s premiers are travelling to Ottawa for meetings beginning Feb. 7, to discuss a new deal between federal and provincial governments on health care funding.

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“We do have some indication that part of it will go into the Canada Health Transfer,” Moe said, adding that an injection into the CHT would be “ideal.”

“That is the way that healthcare funding has traditionally been allocated by the federal government,” he said.

CHT payments are made on a per capita basis, as part of the largest major transfer currently made between the federal government and provinces and territories.

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Under the current deal, the Government of Canada covers 22 per cent of the total cost of health care across the country, outside of tax factors. Last week, premiers indicated they are looking to see that share raised to 35 per cent, equating to a funding boost of $28 billion.

Moe said the request is still out, and described that figure as “representative of the federal government coming back to be a fair funding partner in health care.”

The premier said he is hoping to see deals settled this week. In announcing the described “working meetings” at the end of January, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that the purpose would be to begin negotiations with provinces, not sign deals outright.

Moe said negotiations are expected, but that he hopes the process of hammering out the details will include room to talk about bilateral deals per province.

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“We are going to need some flexibility, across Canada, in how we’re going to invest those dollars,” Moe said.

“Our priorities may be slightly different in Saskatchewan than they might be in, let’s say, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.”

Moe offered no numbers when asked what Saskatchewan specifically would be seeking at the bargaining table. Instead, he noted that if the federal government doesn’t lead with a full $28 billion offer, there needs to be room for negotiation.

“If that offer isn’t at that number, which it should be, that would mean that there’s more work to do,” he said.

“We would maybe consider it a down payment on future work and future discussions that provinces can have with this administration, or maybe a different one.”

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He said provinces want a share agreement that will support dollars already being invested to improve health care, including moves to improve mental health supports and health professional recruitment.

“What this funding will do is really make those investments sustainable into the future and that’s, I think, what provinces are looking for,” Moe said.

He thinks federal and provincial governments “align very closely” on the issue of health care.

When asked what areas increased federal funding could be put towards, Moe mentioned mental health and addictions and overall health staffing as potential beneficiaries of more federal dollars.

“This is a financial discussion at this point,” he added.

Moe did not offer comment on emails recently made public by Canadian Press showing Saskatchewan’s health minister sought COVID-19 aid from the United States before making a request to the federal government in the fall of 2021.

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