(AGENPARL) – ven 08 luglio 2022 [Manitoba Media Notice]
July 8, 2022
Statement from Premier Heather Stefanson on
Meeting of Canada’s Premiers
I look forward to joining my colleagues next week in Victoria, B.C., for a meeting of Canada’s premiers to discuss health care, affordability issues and economic renewal.
Manitobans across the province rely on our public health-care system. We must ensure that it works to provide the services they need, when they need them. Now more than ever, as the pandemic continues to strain our systems, we need to address the federal government’s declining share of health-care funding. We need a new partnership for all Manitobans and all Canadians.
Public health care began as a 50-50 partnership between the provinces and the federal government. But today, Ottawa only covers 22 per cent of these costs. This is not working for provinces and it is not working for people. We need the federal government to provide its fair share and increase its funding level to 35 per cent.
This increased federal share, maintained over time, will allow all provinces to hire more health-care workers, provide more surgeries and treatments, further address backlogs and wait times, and better plan for the future. The prime minister promised to address this structural funding gap after the pandemic and now is the time for action. All premiers are calling for a dedicated first ministers’ meeting to move forward on this critical issue.
Canadians are also facing the affordability challenges caused by rising prices, blocked supply chains, labour shortages and global disruption. We need to address these challenges through economic renewal driven by immigration, increased free trade, critical infrastructure, sustainable development, energy security and economic reconciliation. Necessary collaboration between all governments is essential to advancing these key priorities and to providing the relief that all Canadians need.
Canada’s premiers will also be meeting with National Indigenous Leaders. I look forward to listening, learning and gaining greater insight into the unique and shared challenges and how we can address them together in the spirit of ongoing reconciliation.
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For more information:
– Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
– Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.