By Harinder Mahil

Canada’s premiers held a joint press conference last week and asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeaufor an “urgent” meeting with them to “hammer out a deal” on health-care funding. Their position is that Ottawa is not paying its fair share of health care costs, noting that significant pressures facing the country’s health-care system are only intensifying funding needs.

“More than two years have passed since premiers publicly outlined our proposal for a new funding partnership, but unfortunately, despite assurances, we have received no meaningful response from the federal government,” said Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, the current chair of the Council of the Federation, which represents Canada’s premiers.

Last month, provincial and territorial health ministers met to discuss improvements to Canada’s health-care system and made similar demands of the federal government. Emergency rooms across the country have been forced to shutdown because of staff shortages. Close to a million British Columbians do not have a familydoctor. Many British Columbians have to wait for ambulances when they need emergencycare to get to a hospital. There is crowding in hospitals because of lack of space. People have to wait hours to receive care in emergency rooms and hospitals. 

Hospitals specializing in children’s care are extremely busy as cases of flu and respiratory illness among children continue to soar across the country. If there ever was a need to improve the system, it is now.

The high rate of burnout and staff shortages in hospitals across the country has become extremely serious. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionalsare urgingthe federal government to sit down with provinces to find solutions.

Some provinces such as Ontario are considering plans for privatization and proposing to save money through “innovation.” There have been numerous studies that say that solution does not involve privatization.

The premiers’ renewed their request to raise the federal share of healthcare spending in Canada from 22% to 35%, accusing the Trudeau government of not paying its fair share.

The federal government says it has spent a lot of money to protect Canadians during the pandemic. It is indeed true that the federal government spenthundredsofbillions of dollars during the pandemic. We are all thankful to the government for taking the steps it did over the last three years. However, that does not mean they don’t have to spend more on healthcare nowthat we have come through COVID-19.

Prime Minister Trudeau, during the last federal election, promised Canadians he would improve and expand our health care system. We are still waiting for him to fulfill his promise.

The federal government appears to recognize our health system is experiencing significant challenges. It also recognizes that it must work together with the provinces and territories to support better health care for Canadians. 

For the past seven years, Prime Minister Trudeau has maintained the cuts to the Canada Health Transfer that the Harper government put in place. As more services are privatized and cut across the country, health care professionals are urging the federal government to restore health care funding to ensure provinces and territories have enough beds for patients, more staff to address shortages and improve diagnostic services.

A predictable funding is required to financially support the Canada’s healthcare system. This can only happen when the federal government assures provinces of its proper share. There is a crisis in health care now which can only be fixed with more resources. If it gets any worse, the federal government will have only itself to blame.

Harinder Mahil is President of the West Coast Coalition Against Racism (WCCAR).