The Prime Minister abdicates, capitulates, bows; Sol Zanetti was not short of synonyms in Thursday’s interview.
François Legault is bowing because he can’t get anything from the federal government, said supporting MP Jean-Lesage, who is also spokesman for the second opposition group in the National Assembly on Canadian relations.
And that sets a very dangerous precedent, he continued, worrying that in the long run Ottawa will add more conditions to those imposed so far to increase its health transfers, which the provinces – including Quebec – desperately need. And this is very serious, because it will not be to our advantage [à long terme].
“Accepting terms now is opening the door to accepting more terms [plus tard] and to accept Pan-Canadian standards that would not be appropriate. »
– A quote from Sol Zanetti, MP for Jean-Lesage and QS spokesman for Canadian relations
When asked about the issue, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also lamented the withdrawal of the Legault government in the same dossier. According to him, it is unfortunate that the Trudeau government dares to impose conditions to increase its health transfers.
It’s a technique Ottawa uses to meddle with Quebec’s decisions, smothering budget items like health when our money is at stake, he denounced in an interview.
Enlarge picture (New window)Paul St-Pierre Plamondon believes Quebec must stand firm ahead of Ottawa on health transfer issue. (file photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
The issue of health transfers — a major bone of contention in relations between the Trudeau administration and those of the provinces — has been evolving rapidly over the past 24 hours.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford first announced on Wednesday that he was willing to accept certain terms from the federal government if it increases transfers, revealing a crack in the common front that Canada’s 10 provinces have been observing for several years .
In response, François Legault’s cabinet announced in a statement to the media at the end of the day that Quebec was ready to continue sharing everyone [ses] Data to advance the case.
However, he clarified that said data was already in the public domain, adding that it was a matter of transparency and that it was [n’avait] does not have to be a condition.
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Provinces across the country have long required the Canada Health Transfer to cover 35% of health care costs in Canada, compared to the current 22%.
They have also been demanding for years that there should be no strings attached to these additional funds.
For its part, the federal government has agreed to increase health transfers. But not at any price. Ottawa wants provinces and territories to agree on national data sharing to improve patient outcomes.
Prime Minister Trudeau recently indicated that any increase in funding will only come if his interlocutors agree to reform and improve their healthcare systems.
The ball is now in the hands of the provinces, said Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos shortly before Christmas.
With information from Pascal Poinlane and The Canadian Press