Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and B.C. Premier John Horgan speak to reporters at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina on May 27, 2022. (Dominick Lucyk/980 CJME)

By Dominick Lucyk/650 CKOM News

Moe gathers with western premiers to talk health-care funding

May 27, 2022 | 1:33 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed back many things.

But while concerts, hockey games and vacations can be rescheduled, that’s not always the case with surgeries and other health procedures.

As Canada exits the pandemic, the premiers of the western provinces and the territories are getting together to ask for more health-care funding from the federal government.

Premier Scott Moe hosted his colleagues in a Regina meeting Friday. B.C. Premier John Horgan, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, and the three territorial leaders all attended.

Moe and Horgan outlined their goals and answered a few questions from reporters on Friday morning.

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“Our ask … (is) of the federal government to be a fair and a full funding partner in delivering provincially delivered health-care services across the nation,” Moe said.

Horgan said extra funding is definitely needed in the wake of the pandemic.

“Throughout the pandemic, we continued to raise the Canada Health Transfer as a critical part of our ability to meet the expectations of our citizens,” he said.

“The prime minister repeatedly said when we get past the pandemic will be the best time to have those conversations. Well, we’re here today. The pandemic is waning … and it’s time now to have that conversation.”

The provinces are asking for an increase of $28 billion, with the federal government upping its funding share from 22 per cent to 35 per cent.

“What that means to Canadians, to people in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and across this nation, is that we will be able to ensure that existing services that we have are sustainable into the future,” Moe said.

Not only does Moe think that’s needed to get people the health care they may be waiting for because of the pandemic, he also thinks it’s necessary as provinces add and expand other types of health care.

“We already are expanding services, for example, in mental health and ultimately addictions treatment and rehabilitation … and it’s going to have to continue to increase in the future,” Moe continued.

Another problem Horgan pointed to is a shortage of doctors, nurses and other health-care workers.

It’s a problem he thinks the provinces could help deal with if they had more cash from the feds.

“We’re going to bring forward new initiatives on human resources development so we can have more care providers for the challenges of an aging population. Now is the time for a new vision for health care in Canada,” Horgan said.

Horgan acknowledged that premiers often ask for more health funding, but said it’s particularly needed now.

“For the cynics who observe our federal system and say, ‘Well, imagine that. Premiers standing up and demanding more. That’s never happened before,’ I get that this may sound like a record that’s been played before, but never have we been at such a critical point in the delivery of the fundamental social program that makes us who we are,” he said. “That’s our medicare system that started right here in Saskatchewan.”