Territorial prime ministers have officially given their blessing to a federal health plan that will give a modest boost to healthcare funding for the North, but falls short of what the prime ministers had called for.
The plan, announced last week, aims to pump billions into provincial health systems. However, the amount coming into the North is far less than what the North Premiers wanted to see, according to Nunavut Premier PJ Akeeagok; and a disappointment, according to NWT Health Secretary Julie Green.
Territorial Health Investment Fund
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$10 million per year for NWT (a $2.9 million increase)
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$10 million per year for the Yukon (a $3.6 million increase)
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$15 million per year for Nunavut (a $1.5 million increase)
In a statement Thursday, Akeeagok called for greater federal investment in the Territorial Health Investment Fund, which helps fund medical travel and also gives areas a little money to try new health initiatives.
He said the federal government’s renewal of that fund, which will provide $175 million to all three territories over five years (at $35 million per year), comes to less than half what the prime ministers had called for.
“Along with the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, our administration has written to Prime Minister Trudeau urging the federal government to reconsider a proposal the territories presented in November,” Akeeagok wrote.
This proposal would have priced the fund at $75 million per year. Half of that money would go to Nunavut because of the unique healthcare challenges it faces.
What the deal means
Figures on how much the deal will put in each territory’s pockets are still surfacing, but Green said about $12 million in new funds should flow into the NWT
“We have expressed our disappointment… [It] does not represent a very significant part of our budget,” said Green, whose department is worth about $600 million in the territorial budget currently before the Legislative Assembly.
“But we as a territory have decided to stay on board … and accept this deal.”
Aside from the Territorial Health Investment Fund, the arrangement means more money will flow into the Canada Health Transfer for emergency services. Green said the NWT would immediately top up that fund with $2 million, though it’s not yet clear what the other territories will receive.
This health transfer, from which the NWT received about $53 million in 2022-23, will also increase by 10 percent this year and continue to increase in the coming years.
The areas also receive money through so-called Tailored Bilateral Agreements, which cover four priorities: family health services, health workers and residues, mental health and substance abuse, and modernization of health systems.
Green said the bilateral funding — about $7 million for the NWT — would help the NWT expand the family doctor residency program, which currently only accepts two students a year.
“More than just inventing new things, what we try to do is make sure what we have does well,” she said.
As for the Yukon, Premier Ranj Pillai said the territory plans to sign an agreement with the federal government on funding and then work out the details. The Yukon also expects a little over $7 million in bilateral funding, and Pillai said federal priorities for that funding align with the Yukon’s own priorities.
“We’re happy with what we’re seeing,” said Pillai.
