By Canadian Press

Ottawa ‘shouldn’t walk around with a stick’ to enforce health deals: Holland

Aug 18, 2023 | 1:41 PM

OTTAWA — Newly appointed Health Minister Mark Holland says accountability for new federal health funding will largely come from Canadians themselves. 

Holland told a conference hosted by the Canadian Medical Association in Ottawa that a $198-billion deal struck between the federal and provincial governments in February is intended to restore Canadians’ optimism about Canadian health care. 

All provinces except Quebec have accepted the agreement in principle and are hammering out finer details.

Holland says governments “viscerally” understand that Canadians are done with political excuses for the state of health care and want to see results. 

He says he believes those public demands will ensure accountability, and Ottawa “shouldn’t walk around with a stick.”

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Holland said after his appearance that his provincial and territorial counterparts are pulling in the same direction, and that’s why he doesn’t want to start talking about how they’ll be penalized if they don’t meet the deal’s conditions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2023.

The Canadian Press