Moe expecting meeting soon on health money

Money for health care has been a sore spot for a while between the provinces and federal government, but there may be room for optimism now.

While speaking about his event invitation snub on Monday, Premier Scott Moe also talked about health-care funding as an area where the two levels of government have to work together.

Moe said he’s confident there’s going to be a meeting at some point in the near future on that.

“I think there’s an opportunity there for provinces, including Saskatchewan, to work closely with the federal government on advancing the sustainability of health care into the future,” said Moe.

Last month, the premiers at the Council of the Federation meeting sent a letter to the prime minister’s office demanding a sitdown to talk about the payments. The premiers feel the federal government hasn’t kept up with paying its share of health-care costs.

Moe said on Monday that the provinces are already making the investments needed.

“Now is the time for the federal government, the prime minister, to sit down with the sub-national leaders and provide a funding level that will ensure that those investments are sustainable into the future,” said Moe.

The premier talked about things his government is doing, like trying to entice more workers to the province, increasing surgical capacity, building urgent care centres, and advancing mental health and addictions supports.

When it comes to that money, there has been talk about the federal government attaching strings to it, including standards.

Moe said strings aren’t what he’d call them, but he thinks many of the policies and directions of the federal government align with what the provinces want as well.

“There are mechanisms and entities and processes in place already that I think could be expanded on that would allow us to achieve not only what the federal government is looking for, but what, quite frankly, provincial governments are looking for as well,” said Moe.

The premier said he would be willing to have conversations about increased reporting and accountability for the health authority.

While in Saskatoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also hinted there could be “positive steps forward” in the very near future.