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TORONTO – As the country’s health ministers prepare to meet in Vancouver, Ontario is already saying decisions on changing the health care funding formula should be left for another day.
During last year’s election campaign, the Trudeau Liberals promised to negotiate a new health accord with the provinces and territories, including a long-term deal on funding.
British Columbia Health Minister Terry Lake says B.C. and the Atlantic provinces are not satisfied with the current funding formula because it doesn’t recognize the higher costs borne by provinces with aging populations.
But Ontario wants the provinces, territories and federal government to focus on what they want in a new health care accord at the meeting that begins on Wednesday and talk about the distribution of funds at a later date.
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins says scientific and policy experts are divided on the health cost impacts of an aging population, which he insists are “not at all clear.”
Hoskins says a change in the health funding formula would “essentially be a wash” for Ontario, so it’s in a unique position to look at any increased burden on the system from the growing population of aging baby boomers.
