Premiers called on the federal government to restore funding to health care and to provide adequate growth to the transfers so that high quality health care will be available in the future. Premiers also noted that increased federal support should be provided through the existing transfer mechanisms. As their first priority for new federal spending, Premiers emphasized that the federal government must restore its funding to health care through the existing CHST arrangements. Premiers also agreed that funding for core health services, once restored, must be stable and adequate, before new health programs are established. In response to the Prime Minister's concerns about the dedication of new federal funds to other areas, Premiers made the following statement.
Premiers are committed to directing additional federal funds to core health services.
In terms of the future work of Finance Ministers, Premiers have directed Finance Ministers to continue their work on redesigning fiscal arrangements to ensure that all provinces and territories have the resources necessary to provide quality public services to Canadians. Premiers underscored the need to ensure that provincial and territorial governments have the resources to carry out their responsibilities, especially the delivery of social programs and directed their Finance Ministers to continue work on redesigning current arrangements to achieve this goal. Premiers are calling on the federal government to match its priorities with those of Canadians. The federal government relied heavily on cuts to the transfer programs in its deficit cutting exercise. With the federal budget in a surplus position, the federal government should begin immediately to restore funding to the health care system.