Moe gathers with western premiers to talk health-care funding

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed back many things.

But while concerts, hockey games and vacations can be rescheduled, that’s not always the case with surgeries and other health procedures.

As Canada exits the pandemic, the premiers of the western provinces and the territories are getting together to ask for more health-care funding from the federal government.

Premier Scott Moe hosted his colleagues in a Regina meeting Friday. B.C. Premier John Horgan, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, and the three territorial leaders all attended.

Moe and Horgan outlined their goals and answered a few questions from reporters on Friday morning.

“Our ask … (is) of the federal government to be a fair and a full funding partner in delivering provincially delivered health-care services across the nation,” Moe said.

Horgan said extra funding is definitely needed in the wake of the pandemic.

“Throughout the pandemic, we continued to raise the Canada Health Transfer as a critical part of our ability to meet the expectations of our citizens,” he said.

“The prime minister repeatedly said when we get past the pandemic will be the best time to have those conversations. Well, we’re here today. The pandemic is waning … and it’s time now to have that conversation.”

The provinces are asking for an increase of $28 billion, with the federal government upping its funding share from 22 per cent to 35 per cent.

“What that means to Canadians, to people in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and across this nation, is that we will be able to ensure that existing services that we have are sustainable into the future,” Moe said.

Not only does Moe think that’s needed to get people the health care they may be waiting for because of the pandemic, he also thinks it’s necessary as provinces add and expand other types of health care.

“We already are expanding services, for example, in mental health and ultimately addictions treatment and rehabilitation … and it’s going to have to continue to increase in the future,” Moe continued.

Another problem Horgan pointed to is a shortage of doctors, nurses and other health-care workers.

It’s a problem he thinks the provinces could help deal with if they had more cash from the feds.

“We’re going to bring forward new initiatives  on human resources development so we can have more care providers for the challenges of an aging population. Now is the time for a new vision for health care in Canada,” Horgan said.

Horgan acknowledged that premiers often ask for more health funding, but said it’s particularly needed now.

“For the cynics who observe our federal system and say, ‘Well, imagine that. Premiers standing up and demanding more. That’s never happened before,’ I get that this may sound like a record that’s been played before, but never have we been at such a critical point in the delivery of the fundamental social program that makes us who we are,” he said. “That’s our medicare system that started right here in Saskatchewan.”

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver (on screen), Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane (l to r), Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on May 27, 2022. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Other items on the agenda

Among other items discussed between the Western Canadian leaders included post COVID-19 recovery, securing the country’s supply chain, trade infrastructure and corridors, internal trade, Arctic security and sovereignty, and getting resources to market.

Moe was passionate when it came to advocating to the federal government to get resources to international markets.

“Can you imagine what our nation would look like if we removed some of the impediments to get some of the most sustainable resources around the world?” he asked.

“Could you imagine what Western Canada would look if we had the ability if these impediments were removed to provide some of the most sustainable oil in the world to other Canadians and across North America? Could you imagine what the wealth of developing this sustainable resource would do to Western Canada? Seriously.”

Moe also stressed the importance of securing Canada’s supply chain and keeping it sustainable.

“Can you imagine the role not only Western Canada could play in not only providing the fuel and food security for Canada, but for North America and our continent?” Moe said. “Other people in the world aren’t going to do this for us, we need to do it ourselves as North Americans.

“If we don’t take this conversation of food and energy security very seriously in this nation and continent in the days ahead, we’re heading down the very same path we’ve seen the European Union head down. That should be problematic and top of mind for all of us in this nation.”

This week’s meetings in Regina marked the first time in two years that the Western Canadian premiers were able to meet face to face.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Shane Clausing