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<\/p>\nCanada\u2019s premiers are hoping for significant changes to the rules which govern how provinces and territories\u2019 health-care systems are funded on the final day of talks in Ontario\u2019s cottage country.<\/p>\n
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A Wednesday morning meeting to end a three-day summit at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., will focus on internal trade, bail reform and changes to how health-care is paid for.<\/p>\n
The current set-up involves all provinces paying into a central pot through the tax system. The money is then divided across the country using a per-capita formula, which ensures funds are available for people in every province to receive broadly the same care.<\/p>\n
That per capita formula, however, is raising concerns from some premiers.<\/p>\n
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said her province had an aging, less healthy population than other parts of the country and payments based only on the number of people failed to capture the cost of complex care.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe certainly think they should respond to the population\u2019s needs,\u201d she told reporters on Wednesday morning. \u201cI think that we should meet Canadians\u2019 needs for health care and we know it costs more to service somebody who has a chronic health issue and someone who is later in life and so we think the transfer should recognize that older and sicker Canadians need more investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Premier Doug Ford, however, who leads the country\u2019s most populous province, complained tax revenue in Ontario is being sent to other provinces.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe are short-changed as far as I\u2019m concerned,\u201d Ford said, talking about transfer payments from the federal government, including health care. \u201cI just want to speak to the people of Ontario. On equalization and transfer payments, at the end of the day goes into one big pot.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Asked if he disagreed with Holt\u2019s push for a needs-based formula, the Ontario premier said he understood the need for smaller provinces to receive extra support.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always said, I\u2019ve no problem taking care of the smaller provinces and territories, but in saying that we need our fair share of health care,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to the federal government website, Ontario will receive an average payment of $1,728 per person from the federal government across health care, social services and equalization payments. New Brunswick, with its substantially smaller population, will get $5,256 per person.<\/p>\n
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The total health transfer for Ontario will be more than $21 billion compared to just over $1 billion for New Brunswick.<\/p>\n
The premiers are also discussing bail reform and internal trade.<\/p>\n
On trade with the United States, the premiers have a spectrum of views. Some, like Ford and British Columbia Premier David Eby, have argued for retaliation if President Donald Trump slaps on 35 per cent tariffs, while another group, including Saskatchewan\u2019s Scott Moe, are less convinced.<\/p>\n
Where there does appear to be consensus is on bail reform.\u00a0Holt, who is a Liberal and Ford, a Progressive Conservative, both called on the federal government to tighten Canada\u2019s Criminal Code and make it harder for people accused of crime to receive bail. British Columbia\u2019s Premier David Eby, a New Democrat, and Saskatchewan\u2019s Moe made similar comments.<\/p>\n
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