Premiers from across the country took to the podium, calling for increased federal funding, with Premier Tony Wakeham saying the need in Newfoundland and Labrador is great.
Officials have been in PEI in meetings over the past two days, and are set to sit down with Prime Minister Mark Carney today, where increasing the Canadian Health Transfer from Ottawa is expected to be on the agenda.
Wakeham says part of the discussion in PEI is looking at the way health care is delivered.
“80 per cent of the cost of our health care system is usually around people, between salaries and benefits. And when you think about health care and you break it down and break it down from the equipment to the buildings, it’s really about people helping people,” he told reporters.
“(We’re) trying to make it easier for the people of Canada to access health care. But in order for that to happen, we have to make sure we support our health care workers.”
Wakeham says the federal government needs to provide more supports to provinces for health care delivery.
Premier Tony Wakeham (CPAC)
Meanwhile, we will get an update this morning on the negotiations between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador on a new deal on hydro development in Labrador.
The Wakeham government effectively killed the Furey deal of December, 2024, choosing instead to strike a new negotiating team.
The Premier of Quebec, Christine Frechette, is confident that a deal will be reached before her province goes to the polls in a general election in the fall while Wakeham insists that he is not concerned about timelines – only getting the best deal for Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Premiers are meeting in PEI this week with Prime Minister Mark Carney set to join in on the discussions today.
Premier Wakeham will be on Your VOCM Mornings at 8:40.
