(Ottawa) Ottawa plans to withhold nearly $1 billion in additional federal health funding for Quebec in 2023-2024 if the province does not sign a bilateral agreement with Justin Trudeau's government by March 31.
Published yesterday at 7:02 p.m.
Émilie Bergeron The Canadian Press
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé's office mentioned that amount in a written statement sent Wednesday, denouncing the “threat of forfeiture of the amounts.”
A federal source familiar with the matter gave similar details about the size of the payment in question, saying it was about $900 million. The Canadian Press granted her anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions between the two levels of government.
In announcing an increase in Ottawa's investment in health care by 46 billion over ten years, more than a year ago, Justin Trudeau's government announced that part of 25 billion would come through individual agreements and another part through an expansion of the Canada Health Transfer (CHT). .
The share of the total that must go to Quebec is about 10 billion over ten years, including 4.8 billion from a possible bilateral agreement.
“To receive the funding planned for 2023-2024 under individual bilateral agreements, provinces and territories must sign such an agreement by March 31, 2024,” Ottawa stated in its fall economic statement.
The federal source added that the TCS bonus guarantee – a 5% annual increase over five years – was contingent on the expected signing.
As that deadline approaches, federal Health Minister Mark Holland reiterated Tuesday that he will bring together the six non-signatory provinces and territories, including Quebec, in time for the deadline set by the Trudeau government. At the same time he reminded of the deadline in question.
Apart from Quebec, all other provinces that do not have a final agreement with Ottawa have reached agreements in principle.
“Health is an area of responsibility that belongs to the provinces […] “There is no reason that justifies the federal government not paying the agreed amounts,” said Mr. Dubé’s office, which disputes the validity of the deadline.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESS ARCHIVE
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé
It said that “it has happened several times in the past that a negotiation with the federal government goes beyond the scope of the financial year and the amounts are carried over to the following year and paid out retroactively.”
According to the federal source, in order for Quebec to receive the 900 million retroactively, a corresponding decision by the Federal Council of Ministers is required.
For its part, Mr. Holland's office could not confirm the amount Quebec stands to lose. Since Tuesday it has been argued that the amount of annual payments is set in the bilateral agreements themselves.
With these agreements, the federal government wants to receive action plans from the states that describe how the funds will be used [en plus des dépenses existantes] and how progress will be measured,” was clarified last year.