Ottawa Continues To Ignore Health Care

The federal government continues to ignore the need to properly fund health care and other public services, Finance Minister Peter Christie said today, Feb. 20.

Provincial and territorial finance ministers met with federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale today in Ottawa. Although Mr. Christie was unable to attend the meetings due to the severe winter storm that hit Nova Scotia, he maintained regular contact with senior officials from the Nova Scotia Department of Finance who were in Ottawa.

"For Nova Scotians who were hoping Ottawa would step up and make a meaningful contribution to better health care and public services, the federal government's response is a major disappointment," said Mr. Christie. "Our government will continue to work to improve health and education, but without any new support from Ottawa, it will be extremely difficult to do so."

The federal government rejected the longstanding demands of the provinces and territories to strengthen equalization through the adoption of a 10-province standard and broader revenue coverage in the formula. The federal finance minister also reiterated Prime Minister Paul Martin's refusal to adopt new health care funding as recommended by Ottawa's own Romanow report.

"For the last 10 years, Ottawa's support for health care and public services has flat-lined, while provincial support has increased substantially," said Mr. Christie. "The challenges we face in ensuring Nova Scotians have access to quality health care and public services are a direct result of Ottawa refusing time and again to be a real partner."

Nova Scotia has lost close to $200-million in reduced equalization payments due to changing federal census data.

"It's time for Ottawa to step up and be a government that cares enough to commit to the real priorities of Nova Scotians, like health care," said Mr. Christie.

Premier John Hamm will be in Vancouver next week to deliver a strong message in favour of a new federal-provincial partnership on health care.

“Nova Scotians worried about long wait times for care, long wait times for surgery, long wait times to see a doctor, will find little comfort in Ottawa’s approach at today’s meeting,” added Premier Hamm.

5:18 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, 2004