The Conservative government in Ottawa announced an increase in the Canada Health Transfer before Christmas.
The federal government will increase transfer payments to provinces from $27 billion to $30 billion in 2013-2014, according to a news release on the party’s website. Health funding increased from $19 billion to nearly $27 billion since the Conservatives took power in 2006.
By 2018-2019, funding will increase to $38 billion.
The government plans to move Alberta to per capita funding by 2014 when the Health Accord expires. The per capita funding for health transfers to the provinces is “what I’ve been fighting for,” said local MP Brian Storseth, before the new year.
The federal government moved to per capita on Education and Social transfers in 2007, but could not break the Health Accord signed in 2004 by all the provinces, he added, which did not include per capita funding.
“Federal support for provinces and territories is at an all time high, and it will continue to grow,” said Storseth.
The Canada Health Transfer to Alberta in 2012 will be nearly $2.3 billion, up from $2.1 billion in 2011.
The Canada Health Transfer to Alberta will be 39 per cent higher than under the Liberals and the Canada Social Transfer, at $1.3 billion, has also increased 121 per cent, or $717 million, with the Conservatives, Storseth added.
“This long-term support helps ensure Alberta has the resources needed to provide essential public services,” he said.
