Fight for Action on Health Care Continues

Convincing the federal government to assume responsibility for funding health care will continue to be Nova Scotia's leading priority at this week's annual premiers' conference in Winnipeg, said Premier John Hamm.

"Since coming to office last year, our government's position, and that of our provincial and territorial partners, has been that Ottawa must return to being a real, long-term partner in funding health care in this country," said the premier, who is also scheduled to open a discussion at the conference on health human resources. "We are prepared to work with any government to protect and improve medicare in this province, but first we need a guarantee of stable funding from the federal government before we can proceed with new initiatives. Furthermore, we need a health care system that responds to the specific needs of provinces such as Nova Scotia."

Less than 13 cents of every dollar spent on health care, post-secondary education and social services comes from the federal government, with the provincial and territorial governments assuming the remainder of overall spending. To help the provinces deal with increased costs as a result of population and demographic changes, Premier Hamm and his counterparts have urged the federal government to restore the Canada Health and Social Transfer to 1994 levels, introduce an escalator to cover future cost increases and strengthen the equalization program.

"Restoration would mean more than $95 million alone to this year's budget in Nova Scotia," said Health Minister Jamie Muir, who will accompany Premier Hamm to the conference. "Money alone is not the answer to fixing health care, but Nova Scotia cannot continue to shoulder alone ongoing increases in health care costs."

Premier Hamm will also raise the federal government's ongoing neglect of the national highways system. The federal highway infrastructure program, scheduled to begin in two years, will only result in a contribution of about $5 million annually towards Nova Scotia's share of the national highway system. Ottawa collects more than $125 million from the province in fuel taxes.

"Our government is committed to fight for our fair share of federal fuel taxes for Nova Scotia highways and we will continue to do so," said the premier, whose government has formally requested a long-term, cost-shared highways agreement with the federal government.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Premier John Hamm will be available to speak briefly with reporters at about 3 p.m. today at One Government Place, Halifax.