Alberta, Ottawa sign health-care funding deal worth $24B over 10 years

‘This is a productive first step,’ Premier Danielle Smith says of agreement.

Alberta has become the seventh province to sign an agreement in principle with Ottawa on health-care funding.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at a meeting of Canada’s premiers earlier this month. On Monday, the federal government announced Alberta has signed a new $24-billion health-care agreement. Sean Kilpatrick. The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press, CBC News Edmonton Feb 27, 2023

The federal government said in a news release Monday that more than $24 billion is to be invested in Alberta’s health-care system over the next 10 years.

That includes $2.9 billion for a new bilateral agreement focused on shared health priorities and $233 million in an immediate, one-time top up to the Canada Health Transfer to address urgent needs, which include help for pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms, as well as addressing long wait times for surgeries.

The deal also aims to improve access to family health services, including in rural and remote areas and in underserved communities. Other goals include fostering a resilient and supported health workforce, improving mental health care and addictions services and allowing access to Albertans’ own electronic health information.

Alberta joins the four Atlantic provinces, Ontario and Manitoba in signing on to the health-care deal.

The agreements in principle are a first step to completing the $196-billion, 10-year health-care funding proposal that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made on Feb. 7.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a written statement that the agreement will support her government’s efforts to improve health care.

“We are leading the country in health-care reform and are focused on ensuring Albertans can access world-class care when and where they need it,” she said.

“This is a productive first step and I look forward to continued discussions with the Government of Canada on how we can achieve longer-term sustainable funding.”

Smith, Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping and Alberta Health Services administrator John Cowell are scheduled to update media later Monday on their plan to improve the province’s health-care system.

Source CBC News Edmonton

 

Also see
A National Medical License May Ease Canada’s Doctor Shortages The New York Times
Record-high health spending in Alberta budget doesn’t solve main issues, say doctors and unions CBC
Emergency department crowding has gone beyond hallways onto ambulance ramps. Now there’s nowhere left to wait. The Conversation
Federal, Ontario and Atlantic Canadian governments reach agreement on health-care funding CBC
Trudeau pitches 10-year health-care deal with $46B in new spending CBC
Alberta government commits $158M in upcoming budget to address health care worker shortage CBC
Premier Danielle Smith announces members of COVID-19 review panel CBC
‘It’s not going to collapse’: UCP boasts improved health system wait times, staffing levels Calgary Herald

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