Fired-up Philpott challenges provinces, territories over health transfers
TORONTO — Health Minister Jane Philpott bluntly put the provinces and territories on notice Monday that the federal Liberal government isn’t willing to spend more on health care without innovative ideas and measures to ensure accountability.
Ottawa has to be sure it’s getting the most for its money when it comes to health transfer payments, a frank-talking Philpott told a news conference at the same Toronto hotel where her regional counterparts were meeting separately.
Officials say federal health expenditures totalled $41.3 billion in 2015-16, with transfer payments accounting for $34 billion of that.
“My ears are open,” said Philpott, who sits down with provincial and territorial health ministers on Tuesday. “If they have great ideas about how they want to improve systems … I am open to listening to that. “