November 30, 2020
Statement from Premier Brian Pallister on Federal Government's Fall Economic Statement 2020
Protecting health care is the top priority of our government and all Canadians, and will continue to be. We need the federal government to make a real commitment to a renewed and strengthened federal-provincial partnership on health care. The percentage of federal support has never been lower; the need for more health-care funding has never been higher. COVID-19 has made that need even greater. We are long past the point where the federal government’s delays and postponements in addressing this issue will suffice – it is time for real action from the federal government.
We are pleased to see the federal government’s commitment to supporting small businesses as the challenges facing our small businesses continue to grow. We must work together to continue to fight the adverse effects of COVID-19 on jobs and communities.
However, the broader health-care cost consequences were not referenced and this will be the focus of our discussions at the upcoming First Ministers’ Meeting with the prime minister in early December. We must remember that it is only by defeating COVID-19 that we can allow our economy to fully restart and grow.
We look forward to a dedicated federal action on the health-care front as too many Canadians are being affected by delays in necessary surgeries, treatments and tests. This can and must be addressed by a rebalancing of the national Canadian partnership on health care with the federal government taking its rightful place as a true funding partner by increasing its share of the Canada Health Transfer to 35 per cent as requested by premiers and required by Canadians.
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