N.S. Priorities are Health, Transportation, Energy
PREMIER'S OFFICE--N.S. Priorities are Health, Transportation, Energy
Premier John Hamm will continue to advance Nova Scotia priorities among the provinces and territories at the 42nd annual premiers' conference, this Wednesday to Friday in Victoria.
The premier will make presentations on transportation and energy. He will also press for a health-care funding solution that protects the interests of smaller provinces such as Nova Scotia.
"Since 1993, the federal government has cut over a billion dollars in cash transfers from health and social programs in Nova Scotia," said the premier. He noted that this year's Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) to Nova Scotia is estimated at $106 million less than the province received in 1993-94.
"The federal government must become a real partner with provincial and territorial governments for quality, sustainable medicare," he said.
The premier stressed that any funding proposal from the provinces and territories on health care must reiterate the position unanimously adopted at last year's premiers' conference in Winnipeg. That position stated that any restoration of CHST must be done in concert with strengthening equalization.
At the First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa last September, Premier Hamm expressed disappointment that the federal government's funding arrangement did not adequately address the issue of equalization.
"If Nova Scotians, and other Canadians in smaller provinces, are to receive a level of health and public services comparable to the rest of the country, then a solution based solely on the CHST is no solution at all," he added.
"Funding based on the current CHST per-capita formula will see the lion's share of new dollars go to larger provinces, which will make the current gap in health care services between the provinces much larger. Anything less than the Winnipeg position is a recipe for multi-tier medicare."
Premier Hamm will also be speaking to the federal government's responsibility to work with the provinces on rebuilding the national transportation network. When the federal government held cross-country hearings reviewing the Canadian Transportation Act, Premier Hamm was the only provincial leader to make a formal submission.
"A safe, reliable transportation system is one of the key drivers for economic growth," said the premier. "Governments at all levels must work together more closely to build a transportation network ready for the opportunities presented by a 21st-century economy."
The premier will also discuss maximizing the economic and social benefits of the country's growing energy sector.
"All governments must identify ways to remove the barriers currently impeding sustained growth in the energy industry," he said. "Moreover, as the federal government moves forward with the development a continental energy strategy, Ottawa must allow for full and meaningful participation by all provinces and territories."
Although the issue of resources royalties will be discussed in the context of energy discussions, the premier noted that the Campaign for Fairness is a policy priority he will raise directly with the federal government.
Under the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Accord, the province was guaranteed to be the principal beneficiary of its offshore resources, yet receives only 19 cents out of every dollar, with the remaining 81 cents going to the federal government's general revenues. The goal of the Campaign for Fairness is to ensure the accord's guarantee becomes a reality.
"It's a bilateral issue with the federal government and we will continue to press for a solution outside of equalization that honours Ottawa's commitment that Nova Scotia will be the principal beneficiary of our offshore," concluded the premier.