Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he hopes the provinces can reach a health-care deal with the federal government shortly after their meeting next week with the prime minister.
Ford echoed recent comments from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that a deal will not be signed at the meeting set for Feb. 7.
But Ford says they should be striking a deal on the Canada HealthTransfer “shortly thereafter,” because talks can’t drag on when all jurisdictions are feeling health-care pressures.
The premiers want to see Ottawa cover 35 percent of health-carecosts across the country, up from the current 22 percent.
Trudeau has said the funding will come with strings attached, including sharing health data and outcomes for a national database.
Ford has said he wants to use increased federal funding to hire more nurses and doctors, as well as help tackle the surgical backlog.
