Even as well being ministers from throughout the nation put together to fulfill in Vancouver this week, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the federal authorities is just not thinking about a severe dialog about health-care funding.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, because the health-care system strained below staffing shortages and excessive case counts, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to spice up well being switch to provinces after the pandemic is over.

Now, with most pandemic-era restrictions gone — however the health-care system nonetheless below pressure — Dix says the federal government has not proven any willingness to have Trudeau sit down with premiers to debate augmented transfers.

“The prime minister is not a potted plant. He can defend his position if he wishes. But there needs to be a meeting,” Dix stated in an interview airing Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live.

He went on to say the federal authorities has mentioned preconditions for a first-rate minister-premiers assembly, however argued that was not what Canadians needed.

“Premier Horgan, when he was head of the Council of the Federation, worked on [meeting with Trudeau] for pretty much a year. And the federal government has not been willing to do the work to come to the table and sit down, prime ministers and premiers, and talk about one of the central issues facing the country,” Dix advised CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

This summer season, Trudeau reiterated his willingness to shell out more cash to provinces for the health-care system, however emphasised that the dialog ought to be round how that cash would obtain outcomes for Canadians.

“I think all Canadians know that it’s not just a question of putting more money into the system, it’s a question of making real improvements in the system,” he stated in August.

Duclos says he is ‘ally’ of provinces

The Canada Health Transfer is the most important single federal switch to provinces and territories, and over the summer season the federal authorities added $2 billion in a one-time top-up to the $45.2 billion it says provinces and territories will likely be getting this yr.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos struck a conciliatory tone in an interview with CBC News this week, describing himself as an “ally” of provinces. But he additionally reiterated the strategy of emphasizing ends moderately than means.

“We want those results to be concrete and tangible,” Duclos stated, “And before we come to the means that will be necessary to achieve them, we first need to speak to the substance around those results.”

Federal sources advised the Toronto Star this week the federal government might signal separate offers with some provinces and depart others out within the chilly, although Duclos denied that was the federal government’s plan.

On Sunday, Dix praised Duclos however remained laser-focused on the decision for a higher-level assembly.

“I very much respect Minister Duclos, but I do not understand the prime minister’s position that he does not want to sit down and do the work.”

The Vancouver conferences will doubtless centre on the well being switch query, however happen in a context the place the healthcare system continues to face acute staffing shortages.

Dr. Alika Lafontaine, head of the Canadian Medical Association, stated he’s hoping the assembly of well being ministers ends in collaboration throughout Canada “because the crises are too big for any one jurisdiction. If we don’t act, all of our systems will continue to deteriorate. And I think the impetus for action is now because of how severely patients are suffering.”