Health Care, Beef Are Nova Scotia's Priorities At Meeting

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Health Care, Beef Are Nova Scotia's Priorities At Meeting

Next week's Atlantic Premiers meeting should focus on protecting and improving health care and giving beef farmers a hand up, Premier John Hamm said today, Feb. 5.

Premiers from the four Atlantic provinces will meet in Corner Brook, NL, on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Thursday, Feb. 12.

"As Prime Minister Paul Martin and Finance Minister Ralph Goodale prepare the upcoming federal budget, Atlantic Canada needs to speak with one voice," said Premier Hamm. "One strong voice to protect our public services -- like health care and education."

The premier today released financial materials tracking federal and provincial revenues in Nova Scotia over the last 10 years. While revenues generated in Nova Scotia have increased by more than 50 per cent in that period, total federal support has stayed flat. Moreover, while provincial spending on health, post- secondary education and social services has increased by more than $800 per person in Nova Scotia since 1993, federal spending has actually dropped by $23 a person.

"It's startling stuff. Any short-term funding increase Ottawa has given with one hand, it has taken away with another," said the premier. "That's the dire situation Nova Scotians face. It's the dire situation all Atlantic Canadians face. It's a federal government that has turned its back on Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada."

The federal government failed to provide any long-term commitment to improve health care at last week's First Ministers' meeting or in this week's speech from the throne. Since 1993, Ottawa has cut health and social transfers to Nova Scotia by a billion dollars.

"When Ottawa won't work with Atlantic governments, our citizens pay the price," said the premier. "That's got to stop."

Premier Hamm will also urge his Atlantic counterparts to commit to increasing local beef purchases at government-owned facilities. As part of the Brand Nova Scotia initiative, Economic Development Minister Ernest Fage has been working with his colleagues to move forward on this idea.

"In these tough times on the farm, our beef farmers must know we will be there for them and their families," said the premier.