Premiers agree to accept Ottawa’s health-care funding offer

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson says Canada’s premiers have agreed to accept Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s health-care funding deal.

However, the premiers say the offer is far less than they wanted and is not a long-term solution.

Stefanson is the current chair and spokeswoman of the premiers association known as the Council of the Federation.

READ MORE: Trudeau offers premiers $196-billion, 10-year health-care deal

The premiers met virtually Monday, nearly one week after Trudeau offered the provinces and territories another $46 billion on top of the planned federal health transfers over the next 10 years.

The proposal was well shy of the premiers’ request for the federal government to increase its share of health spending from 22 per cent to 35 per cent.

Stefanson says the new money amounts to about a two per cent hike.

Still, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said Ontario will take any new health-care dollars, but wants a commitment much longer than the 10 years Ottawa has proposed.

READ MORE: Trudeau, premiers to meet in Ottawa to discuss health-care deal