Minister to Chair National Meeting

Nova Scotia Finance Minister Neil LeBlanc will be looking for common ground on national funding for health care when provincial-territorial finance ministers meet in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Mr. LeBlanc is chair of the provincial- territorial finance ministers group this year.

"The provinces and territories all agree that it is time for the federal government to do their part and provide funding for Canadians' number one priority," said Mr. LeBlanc. "This is just the start of the process, but we are in the midst of budget planning for next spring and we need to have some assurances from Ottawa that extra funding is on the way."

The finance ministers will meet with federal Finance Minister John Manley on Tuesday, Dec. 17, and Wednesday, Dec. 18.

"We want to hear directly from John Manley as to how the federal government is going to address health-care funding in light of recommendations put forward by the Romanow Commission and the Kirby Report," said Mr. LeBlanc.

Kyoto and equalization funding will also be on the agenda.