NDP Health Critic Gord Johns is calling on the federal government to renew health care funding agreements with the provinces and territories before they begin expiring in 2027.

Across Canada, public health care systems are under enormous pressure because of inadequate and uncertain funding. Yesterday, the Prime Minister had an opportunity to provide provinces and territories with the stability they need by committing to renew the expiring agreements. Despite repeated calls from premiers across the country, he failed to make any commitment to continued federal funding.

Without renewed agreements, Canada risks returning to health care funding levels not seen since the Harper era. New analysis shows that billions of dollars in planned health care funding could be lost in the years ahead, money that is urgently needed to address staffing shortages, reduce wait times and ensure patients can access care when they need it.

Protecting and strengthening public health care should be a national priority. Universal health care is a defining Canadian institution and one of the clearest distinctions between Canada and the United States.

Without adequate and predictable federal funding, provinces will face growing pressure to cut services or expand private, for-profit delivery. The federal government must also use its authority to ensure public funds support care that complies with the principles and requirements of the Canada Health Act.

Canada is approaching a health care funding cliff, and patients, families and health care workers can’t afford further delay.

New Democrats are calling on the federal government to immediately begin negotiations to renew the expiring health care funding agreements, provide stable and adequate long-term transfers, and make that funding conditional on full compliance with the Canada Health Act.