Pierre Poilievre says he would honour the health-care increases Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised provinces if his Conservatives form the next government.
Poilievre made the pledge after Trudeau offered to increase health-care transfers by $17 billion above previous commitments, and to provide another $25 billion via one-on-one deals with provinces over the next decade.
“We are going to honour it,” Poilievre told reporters before his meeting with his caucus Wednesday.
The Tory leader echoed criticisms from some premiers that the overall increase falls far short of what provincial and territorial leaders were hoping for, after years of complaints that Ottawa isn’t paying its fair share of health-care costs.
Poilievre had been tight-lipped until Wednesday about whether Conservatives shared premiers’ belief that more federal spending was needed to fix health care, and if his party was willing to meet their demands. His silence prompted attacks from the federal New Democrats.
Speaking to reporters, Poilievre touted that under the former Conservative government of Stephen Harper—which he served in until it lost power to Trudeau in 2015—health transfers to provinces were increased annually by six percent.
The deal he was referring to had been negotiated by the previous Liberal government of Paul Martin.
Trudeau invited all 13 provincial and territorial leaders to Ottawa this week to present an offer that would see transfers to the provinces rise by a combined $196 billion over the next 10 years.
Despite their stated disappointment, many premiers have signalled a willingness to accept the offer as Trudeau has said he wants to begin negotiation’s on individual deals.
