As premiers gathered in British Columbia try again to make the case for a permanent increase in federal health transfers, they are also waiting for the $2 billion promised to them in March to help eliminate the surgical and diagnostic backlogs.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced the one-off supplement on March 25 to “speed up” surgeries, and he and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced a bill in the House of Commons on the same day to allow funding.
Bill C-17 never made it past first reading, and the promise instead made it into the federal budget about two weeks later.
Duclos says agreements will soon be signed with the provinces and the finance ministry says payments will begin “soon”.
British Columbia Premier John Horgan said the money would not be enough to meet the needs, adding that “although the bandage is welcome, we need the stitches”.
Per capita funding ranges from approximately $2 million for each of the territories to over $775 million for Ontario.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 12, 2022.