Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Trudeau is in Manitoba today where he is expected to sign a health care agreement with the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
WINNIPEG – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew have announced more than $633 million in health-care funding.
Almost $434 million is to support Manitoba’s three-year plan to improve health care and about $199 million is to bolster care for seniors.
In a news release, the governments say the funding is to support Manitoba’s goal to hire 400 more doctors, 300 more nurses, 200 paramedics and 100 homecare workers.
The province and Ottawa say they are also working to remove barriers for internationally trained doctors and health professionals to practise in Manitoba.
Just over a year ago, Ottawa announced $196 billion in funding over the next 10 years for provinces and territories to improve access to health care – about $46 billion of that is new money.
Manitoba is the seventh province or territory to formally sign on to the accord, following British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario and the Northwest Territories.
All provinces and territories have agreed to the health accord in principle except for Quebec, which has balked at being accountable to Ottawa for how money is spent.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2024
