| MPP
Arnott Says Federal Government Has Further to Go on
Health Care Funds for Provinces
While
he welcomes any new federal funding for health care,
Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott maintains that the
federal government needs to do more to ensure the long-term
viability of Ontario’s health care system.
He
was commenting on published reports indicating that
the federal government has agreed to provide $12 billion
in new funding to the provinces for health care over
three years, and an estimated $1.6 billion for Ontario
in the coming fiscal year.
“This
is clearly a step in the right direction and I hope
it will help as we continue to provide the health services
people need in our communities,” said Mr. Arnott. “However,
I continue to maintain that the federal government needs
to make a permanent commitment to health care through
a new escalator clause.”
Mr.
Arnott first raised the issue of federal funding for
health care in a Private Member’s resolution in December
1999. His resolution called upon the Government of Canada
to fully restore the Canada Health and Social Transfer
to 1994-95 levels, and establish an escalator clause
which would ensure that these cash transfers increase
to keep pace with future cost pressures faced by provincial
governments in their delivery of health services, post
secondary education and social services.
He
raised the issue during question period with then Finance
Minister Ernie Eves on December 20, 1999. When the Legislature
resumed sitting that spring, Premier Mike Harris introduced
a resolution of his own on health funding. During that
debate on the issue on April 3, 2000, Mr. Harris acknowledged
Mr. Arnott’s efforts to highlight the federal health
care funding shortfall:
“I
would like to credit the leadership of Ted Arnott, the
member for Waterloo-Wellington, who tabled a similar
resolution before the House rose last fall,” he said.
In
April 2000, members of all three political parties at
the Legislature supported and passed Mr. Arnott’s resolution.
On September 11, 2000, two months before the last federal
election, the Government of Canada reached an agreement
with the provinces in the spirit of restoring funds
that were cut to the transfer program.
“Premier
Ernie Eves deserves credit for standing up on behalf
of the people of Ontario and for their health care needs.
He has played an important role in these negotiations
between the provinces and the federal government and
continues to provide the leadership we need to achieve
a long-term solution,” Mr. Arnott said.
The
Ontario Government is spending $25.5 billion on health
care this year up from $17.4 billion in 1995.
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