The agreement means all 13 provinces and territories have signed the federal government’s health agreement, which aims to improve health outcomes for Canadians.
Quebec is the last province to sign a health agreement
Health Minister Mark Holland signed a $3.7 billion health agreement with Quebec today, meaning all 13 provinces and territories have now signed Ottawa’s new health agreement.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first presented the provinces with a new health financing deal more than a year ago to increase federal health transfers and provide targeted aid.
The offer came as premiers and health workers raised the alarm about the dilapidated state of Canada’s health systems.
In return for the funds, Ottawa requires provinces to report on how the money is spent and measure whether those funds improve health outcomes for Canadians.
Quebec was the only province to not sign the agreement in principle because of concerns about the sovereignty of its health data and Ottawa had overstepped its jurisdictional boundaries.
Now that Ottawa has signed deals with every province and territory, Holland says he will bring together his fellow health ministers in the coming weeks to talk about next steps.
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