Premiers continue united front on health care

At the end of day two of the Annual Premier�s Conference in Prince Edward Island, Premier Roger Grimes said premiers and territorial leaders continue to be united in their efforts to ensure the federal government pays its fair share for health care in Canada. He also said that premiers were doing what Canadians want in working with the federal government to seek adequate funding.

"In a study of 1,000 Canadians conducted last month by COMPAS Inc. for the Premiers' Council on Canadian Health Awareness, 84 per cent of Canadians told us that the federal government should fund at least 25 per cent of health care costs," said Premier Grimes. "Ninety per cent support provinces and territories in taking steps to ensure Ottawa contributes its fair share for health care."

The Premier said that he and his colleagues are doing everything possible, within their means, to improve health care for the people. "The cost of health care cannot be ignored. It continues to increase at rates that are not sustainable by provinces and territories alone. While the most recent injection of funds by the federal government is a positive move, it is still not enough. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the health system is taking up an inordinate part of our overall budget. And, we�re not alone. On average, provinces are spending about 40 per cent of their program dollars on health care."

Premiers are calling on Ottawa to increase its share of funding for health and social programs. At present, provinces and territories pay 84 per cent of health care costs, while the federal government pays only 16 per cent. This falls short of funding levels recommended in the Romanow Report, as well as by premiers.

While federal funding for health increased this year, the increase does not begin to make up the loss from previous federal cutbacks, nor does it address the expected growth rate in this critical sector. Ottawa's recent funding increase raised its share of health spending from 14 per cent to about 16 per cent. However, in an environment characterized by increasing costs, new federal funding falls far short of the needs of Canadians.

Other finding from the COMPASS Inc. study include:

• Four out of five Canadians agree that the federal government is not spending enough on health care;
  
• 88 per cent of Canadians agree that provinces and territories are justified in asking the federal government for more health care dollars;
• Canadians identify increased pressures and demands on the system as the most significant reason why health care costs are rising (37 per cent);
• When asked, 88 per cent of Canadians believe an aging population is a very or somewhat significant reason why health care costs are rising. A full 70 per cent also believe public health emergencies such as SARS and West Nile virus are a very or somewhat significant cause of increased health care costs.

The COMPAS study, conducted between June 18 and 20, surveyed 1,000 Canadians and is considered accurate within three percentage points 19 times out of 20.

If people would like to know more, they can visit the council's Web site at www.premiersforhealth.ca.

The aim of the Premiers' Council on Canadian Health Awareness is to improve Canadians' access to health information and enhance public awareness of the challenges and solutions for the future of health care in each jurisdiction.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy , (709) 687-0302

2003 07 11                                     3:12 p.m.