Premier to Promote Health Priorities of Nova Scotians

Premier Darrell Dexter will aim to protect health care for Nova Scotians, and ensure fairness across the country as he joins fellow premiers for Council of the Federation meetings in Victoria, B.C., starting Monday, Jan. 16.

"Health care remains the number one priority of Nova Scotians and Canadians," said Premier Dexter. "Ensuring all provinces can provide similar public health-care services, at similar costs, is paramount."

On Dec. 19, the federal government announced its approach for funding major transfer programs, including Canada Health Transfer, Canada Social Transfer and equalization to the provinces, which includes moving to a per capita funding formula with the Canada Health Transfer.

"The differences that exist among the regions are very real," Premier Dexter said. "The new federal funding formula for the Canada Health Transfer will place a greater burden on poorer provinces with weaker economies and aging populations.

"If the rationale behind moving the Canada Health Transfer to a per capita formula is to ensure fairness, then the same rationale should be applied to equalization, and the cap on equalization should be removed."

Nova Scotia has the oldest and fastest aging population in Canada. In 2010, about 16 per cent of the population were 65 or older. This age group accounts for about half of provincial and territorial hospital expenditures. Nova Scotia has the highest prevalence of chronic disease in Canada and spends more on drugs per capita compared to most provinces.

The premier said Nova Scotia has made significant progress in managing health-care costs, and moving toward a responsible and sustainable health-care system in the province.

Nova Scotia is the first province to set standards for emergency care and the first to introduce collaborative emergency centres, or CECs, to address emergency room closures and long wait times, particularly in rural communities.

The province is optimizing technology through Healthlink 811, has established a Fair Drug Pricing Act that makes life more affordable by lowering the cost of generic drugs for patients and taxpayers, and is investing in programs like the Caregivers' Allowance that help seniors stay in their homes and communities longer.

"As a province, we want to build on the investments made as a result of the 2004 Health Accord, and we want the federal government to be a fully committed funding partner," said Premier Dexter.

The province contributes about 80 per cent of health-care funding for Nova Scotians, with the federal portion sitting at about 20 per cent.

The Canada Health Transfer, the largest major transfer, provides funding for health care. The Canada Social Transfer provides funding to provinces and territories in support of post-secondary education, social assistance and social services, early childhood development and early learning and child care.

The equalization program is the primary vehicle for the federal government to address fiscal disparities among the provinces. In 2009, the government of Canada introduced measures to cap provincial entitlements and impose a ceiling on growth in the program. The Council of the Federation is comprised of all 13 provincial and territorial premiers.