Premier Andrew Furey understands it comes as cold comfort, but the challenges faced in the Newfoundland and Labrador health care system are not unique to this province.

Furey met with his provincial and territorial counterparts in Victoria, British Columbia with health care at the very top of the agenda.

He says the fact that similar challenges are being faced right across the country shows that the current system requires Ottawa’s full and undivided attention.

ER closures, says Furey, “are not unique to us” as similar closures are happening in provinces like Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta. He says that proves it’s not just one province mismanaging the health care system, it’s the system in general and Ottawa needs to “step up in a big kind of way to support Canadians.”

Meanwhile, the federal Health Minister is in St. John’s for a funding announcement.

Jean-Yves Duclos this week defended the work he’s done with his provincial and territorial counterparts as the premiers met in Victoria to talk health care.

The premiers are asking Ottawa to increase health care spending to the provinces.

Minister Duclos is joining provincial minister Tom Osborne for a funding announcement this afternoon related to what’s being called “patient-oriented research” in this province.

The announcement is set for this afternoon at 2:45 at Memorial University’s Bruneau Centre. VOCM News will be there.