Ontario, Quebec, Alberta reach health deals with federal government
OTTAWA — The federal government’s charm offensive with provincial counterparts resulted Friday in three new bilateral health agreements, with Quebec, Ontario and Alberta signing the dotted line after months of heated negotiations with Ottawa.
Health Minister Jane Philpott confirmed the deals — which leave Manitoba as the only provincial holdout — with a wide grin and high-fives with fellow cabinet ministers during Friday’s question period in the House of Commons.
She later denied the government used a “divide-and-conquer” strategy against the premiers and their once-united front against planned reductions in annual health transfer payment increases.
“They have, in their own time, come to an agreement with us,” Philpott said.