Tough Decisions to Improve Health Care

Reducing wait times for medical treatment, adding more support for seniors and helping children become more active are Premier John Hamm's top priorities for the spring sitting of the legislature.

Nova Scotia MLAs will return to Province House on Thursday, April 15. Although Nova Scotia has made progress reducing wait times and hiring more doctors and nurses through Your Health Matters, the province's plan for better health care, the premier noted that Ottawa continues to ignore the number one priority of Nova Scotians.

"As premier, I will not let Ottawa's refusal to make a meaningful commitment to front-line health care stop our government from taking more action to improve the number one priority of Nova Scotians," said Premier Hamm.

The March federal budget did not increase Ottawa's share of health-care costs beyond 16 cents out of every dollar, despite the recommendation of the federal government's own Romanow commission to increase it to 25 per cent.

"That's the reality we must manage through," added the premier. "So to continue to make health care better, while investing more dollars in our students in the classroom and balancing the budget, we will be forced to make some difficult decisions this spring."

The premier said he is prepared to continue working with all MLAs to make minority government work for Nova Scotians.

"All leaders, all MLAs, support more money for health care and education, with a balanced budget," said the premier. "But to advance this common agenda through a budget will require everyone to make tough choices for all Nova Scotians."