Ottawa: After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s offer of $196 billion in total federal funding for health-care to the provinces and territories in the next 10 years, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos will sit down with Ontario government to negotiate bilateral health deal on Thursday.
The health minister will hold first one-on-one negotiation with Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones after the Ontario government indicated that it will sign the deal.
Earlier, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said he will write to provinces today asking if the new health care funding deal proposed by PM Trudeau is approved by them.
Meanwhile, Duclos and Mental Health and Mental Health Minister Carolyn Bennett will ask provincial health ministers to clarify their position on the matter.
The prime minister and premier met on Tuesday in Ottawa, where Trudeau offered to provide $196 billion in funds to the provinces over the next 10 years.
However, this proposal is much less than the demand made by the provinces. The provinces want the federal government to give them a higher stake in the form of funds.
Most of the premiers have expressed disappointment over the offer, but it is also believed that the provinces will accept the offer as they would not like to refuse the new money.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stephenson said the premier would meet at her level in the next few days to discuss the issue.