December 11, 1998
(Executive Council)

Restore health care dollars, Tobin and Clarke tell Ottawa

The decline in confidence in Canada's health care system can only be reversed by the federal government guaranteeing full restoration of health care dollars in next year's budget, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Brian Tobin and B.C. Premier Clark said today.

"Canadians are suffering because of the cuts the federal government has made to health care transfer payments, which have been putting pressure on all provinces since the early 1990s," said Clark. "The federal government must take responsibility."

"Premiers across the country are united on this issue," said Tobin. "We collectively demand - Canadians demand - that the federal government put funding back in health care. The situation is critical, and we need a guarantee from the federal government that health care funding will be completely restored in next year's budget."

Tobin and Clarke joined their provincial counterparts last Tuesday in calling on the Prime Minister to protect core health care programs by restoring transfer payments.

Tobin and Clark said they are disappointed that the Prime Minister has dismissed a request by all the premiers to meet with him to discuss health care spending for next year's budget.

Contact:

Heidi Bonnell                                            Jean Wolff
Director of Communications                    B.C. Premier's Office
Newfoundland and Labrador                    (250) 387-1718
(709) 729-3960                                     or
                                                                   (250) 812-2849

1998 12 11 2:20 p.m.