In a lengthy interview granted to Radio Canada host Patrice Roy, Prime Minister Trudeau harshly responded to complaints from his provincial counterparts calling for more generous federal transfers to keep their healthcare systems afloat, including some stitches tied at a silk hanging thread.
The reality is that it’s not just more money that will fix the situation, Trudeau said. It will require a redesign of the system, he added, assuring that he had had constructive discussions on the subject with François Legault when they met face-to-face on Tuesday morning.
“Money, long term yes, we are interested in giving it away. But this is necessary [les provinces] demonstrate their seriousness in improving and transforming the system [de santé]. »
— A quote from Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
It is up to the provinces to do this, the prime minister noted. We, the only instrument we have at the federal level, are [d’offrir] long-term money, because short-term money, [les provinces] don’t even need it, he added.
According to Justin Trudeau, provincial governments have a surplus, he stressed, and they have the money to invest in their healthcare systems for at least the near future.
Justin Trudeau and Patrice Roy met near Beaver Lake on Mount Royal for their interview.
Photo: Radio Canada / Ivanoh Demers
The money from the federal health transfers should therefore be used for deep improvements in health care in the country, according to Mr. Trudeau. According to him, provinces must first rigorously share data from their health systems so it can be compared across the country, a demand echoed by Justin Trudeau and his Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, whom the Prime Minister described as a condition for an increase in the health transfers.
“Federal money doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s not coming out of the clouds. It’s taxpayers’ money. When we send the money people pay to improve the care people receive, it’s normal for there to be some degree of transparency. »
— A quote from Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
There are things we can and must do to improve the system and we want to be part of those talks, the Prime Minister said. And when can we expect the results of these discussions? Very soon, he promised, realizing the urgency of the situation.
Health, immigration, protection of the French, the topics to be discussed were not lacking during the meeting between Justin Trudeau and François Legault. In an interview with Patrice Roy, the Canadian Prime Minister returns to these issues and talks about the evolution of the political context in Canada with the arrival of a new leader of the official opposition, the conservative Pierre Poilievre.
Protect French… without imposing it
Protecting the French in the country also figured prominently in talks between Prime Minister Trudeau and Patrice Roy.
From the start Justin Trudeau admitted that improvements are needed to protect French fact in Canada and that his government is the first to recognize this.
But imposing the French language charter, commonly known as Bill 101, on state-licensed businesses in Quebec (e.g. banks) is out of the question. This is a repeated request from the Legault administration that, according to Justin Trudeau at least, will remain a dead letter.
It’s not about imposing Law 101 on companies under federal jurisdiction in Quebec, argues Justin Trudeau.
Photo: Radio Canada / Ivanoh Demers
“We respect the areas of responsibility at the federal level. The jurisdictions state that the banks are federal. I don’t want a provincial law governing federal institutions any more than Mr. Legault wants me to meddle in a provincial area. »
— A quote from Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Instead, he proposes a device similar to Bill 101 but more flexible, embedded in the Official Languages Act reform bill, an initiative already denounced by the Bloc Québécois, which sees it as more of a right to work in English in Quebec . .
We want the same thing, argued Mr. Trudeau. We want to protect French, but we also want to protect minority language communities.
Do you confront Pierre Poilievre? I’m tempted, says Trudeau
Canada may not be in an election period, but that doesn’t stop the leaders of the two major parties from trading blows through the media. On Monday, in rare media appearances, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre chained attacks on Justin Trudeau, whom he accused of making life difficult for Canadians by blowing on the embers of inflation.
Attention paid to him by the Prime Minister at the head of a minority government during his meeting with Patrice Roy.
Mr. Trudeau appeared unfazed by the combativeness and pugnacity attributed to his opponent. Yes, he shall be, the prime minister said with irony in his voice, casually noting the Conservatives’ defeat in the Mississauga-Lakeshore by-election, where Pierre Poilievre didn’t even go, according to prime ministers.
Official opposition leader Pierre Poilievre in the House of Commons
Photo: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
But Justin Trudeau has left the door wide open for an electoral duel between himself and Mr. Poilievre in the next election campaign. I really want to, he said when asked about it.
“It’s about the kind of country we live in and where our children will grow up. There’s a real contrast between the vision I have […] and that of the Conservative Party, [qui est] extreme right from time to time. »
— A quote from Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
According to him, the Conservative Party has changed in recent years. It’s not the beautiful blues of anymore [Brian] Mulroney. There is a tough and populist side. But Canadians haven’t changed.
For me, it’s about setting a clear direction for our country’s future, Mr. Trudeau said, casually tracing the fractures between his opponent and himself that could set the tone for the next electoral confrontation.