New Council Will Help Front-Line Health Care

Convincing Ottawa to invest more in health care will be a major goal of the new Council of the Federation.

Premier John Hamm said all Canadians expect their governments to work together on such priorities as hiring more doctors and nurses and reducing wait times. Canada's premiers and territorial leaders officially agreed today, Dec. 5, in Charlottetown to establish the new council, a non-constitutional body aimed at improving co-operation between governments.

"Provincial governments like Nova Scotia are doing our part to guarantee more dollars to front-line health care," said the premier. "The new council will be a key tool to get the next prime minister to match our commitment to better health services."

Premier Hamm noted the importance of prime minister-designate Paul Martin's commitment to hold a formal First Ministers' Meeting early in the new year.

"Nova Scotians, and all Canadians, are counting on the new government to make a long-term financial commitment to better health care," added the premier. "Mr. Martin needs to hear this message and work with the provinces and territories on this important issue before the next federal budget."

In 2002, Nova Scotia became the first province in Canada to guarantee increased funding over the next three years to hospitals and health care providers. The federal government has yet to agree to make the investments in health care recommended by the Romanow commission.