Wednesday December 21, 2011

Federal Politics

Fit As A Fiddle

Federal health care transfer payments to provinces set to receive boost

Released by Robert Pearsall, PA to MP Mark Strahl/Voice file photo

hilliwack-Fraser Canyon MP, Mark Strahl, said federal support for health care will continue to grow under a sustainable plan recently announced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

"Our Government is committed to a strong, sustainable, universally accessible public health care system." Strahl added, "Our long-term funding commitments will help preserve our health care system so it is there when Canadians need it."

In 2012-13, British Columbia will receive $4 billion through the Canada Health Transfer, an increase of over $1.2 billion (or 44%) from what was received under the previous Liberal government.

Under the new long-term plan, health care transfers will increase from $30 billion per year in 2013-14 to more than $38 billion per year in 2018-19. Over that five year period total funding for health care will be at least $178 billion.

B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, praised the five-year plan saying, "From B.C.'s perspective, we think certainty is a good thing."

Further increases in health transfers will be tied to the growth in Canada's economy as measured by nominal Gross Domestic Product which is estimated at over 4% per year. To ensure predictability, the Conservative Government has guaranteed that transfers will grow at a minimum rate of 3% per year.

"Linking the growth in health care transfers to the growth in the economy will ensure our Canadian health care system remains sustainable," said Strahl.

For more information on the work MP Mark Strahl is doing in Ottawa, visit www.markstrahl.com
 

© Copyright (c) 2011 The Valley Voice