Ford to prioritize more doctors, nurses for Ontario under federal health deal

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says hiring more doctors and nurses will be the focus under a potential new health-care deal with the federal government in order to tackle the surgical backlog.

Premiers across Canada are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Feb. 7 to discuss changes to the Canada Health Transfer.

The premiers want to see the Trudeau government cover 35 per cent of health-care funding, up from the present 22 per cent across Canada.

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

In an announcement Friday morning, Ford says he is confident they will reach a deal and that the new funds will be invested into long-term care and home care.

Trudeau says the health-care funding will also require sharing health data and outcomes for a national database.

Ford says he will agree to certain terms and Ontario will be accountable and transparent.

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