GIMLI, Man. – When prime minister Jean ChrŽtien sets out to reform the health care system later this year, western premiers want the Saskatchewn premier sitting right beside him.
The premiers and territorial leaders meeting here last week said it’s only proper a representative of a province known as the “birthplace of medicare” co-chair the national forum on health the federal government is planning this year.
But to their dismay, the provinces have not been invited.
“Constitutionally, the provinces have the primary responsibility for the delivery of health care in this country and it would be inconsistent to have a national forum on health care without having the active participation of provinces in that forum,” said Manitoba premier Gary Filmon.
Read Also
Organic farmers urged to make better use of trade deals
Organic growers should be singing CUSMA’s praises, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
He told reporters he would be writing the prime minister on behalf of western premiers to express their concerns at being left out of the process.
Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow said western provinces have been leaders in reforming their health care systems in recent years, and the federal government should be drawing from their experiences.
He’s concerned that while the federal government is reducing its share of health care support, at the same time it’s imposing standards that are becoming increasingly difficult for the provinces to maintain.
Alberta premier Ralph Klein said he’s heard lots of threats from federal health minister Diane Marleau over what the provinces can or cannot do to reform their systems, but she has never met with the provinces to discuss the issues.
“I think these things have to be clarified and they can best be clarified through a national forum,” Klein said.
Several issues discussed
The two-day meeting of western premiers and territorial leaders yielded a dozen communiques covering everything from regional co-operation to social policy.
The leaders repeatedly expressed concerns over federal off-loading of costs and the need for the provinces and the federal government to work together to cut costs by reducing duplication of services.
British Columbia premier Mike Harcourt said it’s essential for the provinces to be involved in the review of social safety nets and that such a review not become “another excuse to dump Ottawa’s debt onto the provincial taxpayer.”
He cited recent changes to the unemployment insurance system as an “unfortunate signal” the federal review has become an exercise in off-loading.
