Prime Minister Paul Martin today pledged $2 billion in health care funding to the provinces and territories and promised to reconvene with leaders this summer to further discuss a long-term action plan for health care.

January 30, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

Leaders promise to reconvene later this year to discuss long-term health strategy

Video highlights of the First Minister's Meeting in Ottawa

Prime Minister Paul Martin today pledged $2 billion in health care funding to the provinces and territories and promised to reconvene with leaders this summer to further discuss a long-term action plan for health care.

"I believe that the tone of the meeting was good. It was a discussion that was very constructive and we certainly went ahead with the $2 billion contingency," said Prime Minister Martin, following the day-long meeting of Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders at 24 Sussex Drive. "I believe that we made major progress."

Finance and Health Ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments will meet in the coming weeks to discuss a coordinated approach in meeting the mounting needs of the health care system. As well, all leaders agreed to gather later this year to further discuss a long-term plan of action for the national health care system.

"We also discussed extensively the whole question of sustainability of the health care system, sustainability in terms of financing... in terms of making the system stronger," said the prime minister.

In another health-related announcement, the PM said 13 leaders agreed to establish a new public health agency to deal with infectious disease outbreaks - similar to the Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta.

The leaders also discussed improving U.S. relations, and the prime minister vowed to give provincial and territorial leaders new powers to deal directly with U.S. officials on issues of concern. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew has been charged with establishing this new relationship with officials south of the border.

Upon emerging from the meeting, the premiers told reporters they were impressed by the prime minister's commitment to a new spirit of cooperative relations. It was the first official meeting between the Provincial and territorial leaders and Prime Minister Martin since he was sworn-in last year

"I have to say that we were impressed with (Paul Martin's) willingness to join with us... We have made some important progress today," said PEI Premier Pat Binns.

"We're pleased that (the PM) will work with us to ensure that this number one priority of Canadians, our public health system, will be properly funded and sustainable in the future."


Video highlights of the First Minister's Meeting in Ottawa