Canada Reaches Health Funding Agreement with the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon

OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2017  /CNW/ - Canada's public healthcare system is a source of pride. The Government of Canada and the Governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon are committed to ensuring it is there to meet the needs of Canadian families.

Today, the federal government and the Governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon agreed to new targeted federal funding over 10 years for investments in home care and mental health care. The three territories join New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia in accepting the Government of Canada's offer to support transformative change and deliver better health care for Canadians in these priority areas.

The federal government will provide the Territories with a total of $36.1 million in new financial support for health care.

To support better home care, including addressing critical home care infrastructure requirements, it will provide:

• $7.4 million for the Northwest Territories;
• $6.1 million for Nunavut; and
• $6.2 million for Yukon.

Over the same period, it will support mental health initiatives with new funding of:

• $6.1 million for the Northwest Territories;
• $5.1 million for Nunavut; and
• $5.2 million for Yukon.

Under this funding agreement, each territory will be getting its respective share of the investment in home care and mental health offered by the federal government at the Finance and Health Ministers' Meeting on December 19, 2016. The three territories are the latest jurisdictions to pursue a new agreement for health care funding with the federal government, which will begin in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

In the coming weeks, governments will develop performance indicators and mechanisms for annual reporting to citizens, as well as a detailed plan on how these funds will be spent, over and above existing programs. The Government of Canada and those of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon will work out the details of accountability and reporting, consistent with the pan-Canadian approach envisaged in the federal funding offer of December 19, 2016.

As a result of these investments, it is expected that access to mental health services for children and youth will be improved and that the number of patients in hospital who could be supported and better cared for at home or in the community will be reduced.

The targeted investments in home care and mental health care are in addition to the existing legislated commitments through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT), which will continue to grow into the future. This new funding agreement is consistent with the federal investments offered to provincial and territorial governments on December 19, 2016. It would be amended to reflect legislated changes to the CHT in the event of a pan-Canadian agreement consistent with the previous federal offer.

Quotes

"Health care in the North faces unique challenges and additional funding from Canada for seniors and mental health will help provide better care to some of our most vulnerable residents."
The Honourable Bob McLeod
Premier of the Northwest Territories

"This additional funding for home care and mental health initiatives is welcome in Nunavut and supports the overall wellness and needs of our residents."
The Honourable Peter Taptuna
Premier of Nunavut

"The Government of Yukon is pleased to have reached a health-care funding agreement with the Government of Canada which will help us address the priorities of Yukoners. This funding provided by our federal partners is essential to ensure Yukon residents can access the health care they need."
The Honourable Sandy Silver
Premier of Yukon

"I am pleased that the Governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon have decided to accept the federal offer of long-term investments to improve mental health and home care services for people living in Canada's three territories. We will continue to work with our territorial partners to develop solutions that ensure citizens in the territories ‎have access to high-quality healthcare that respects their unique circumstances."
The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Health

 

SOURCE Health Canada

Andrew MacKendrick, Office of Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Charlotte Digness, Media and Communications Coordinator, Cabinet Communications, Department of Executive, Government of the Northwest Territories, Phone: [phone] ext. 11092, Email: [email protected]; Yasmina Pepa, Chief, Public Affairs, Office of the Premier, Government of Nunavut, Phone: [phone], Mobile: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Sunny Patch, Cabinet Communications, Government of Yukon, 867-332-0362, [email protected]; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866 225-0709