Premier Tim Houston wants the next federal government to bring more cash to the table to close gaps in health care.
Houston sent a letter to all the federal leaders outlining what needs to be fixed.
He thinks the feds should be sending us more transfer money to close gaps in the system.
“It’s meant to be as a message from Nova Scotia that we’ll be coming to see you and these are the things we are going to be talking about,” Houston said. “I’m not endorsing anyone and will work in partnership with whoever is there.”
Nova Scotia set aside more than $5-billion dollars for the health budget this year.
Houston says regardless who wins the upcoming election, Ottawa needs to work with provinces to make health care the top priority.
Here are the key highlights of the letter related to health care:
— an increase in funding to 35 per cent of total health-care spending
— implementing a funding formula that recognizes each province’s unique demographic challenges
— partnering to build 1,000 new single-room long-term care beds
— supporting the province in recruiting more health-care professionals, faster
— additional financial support to help Nova Scotia become the first province with universal access to mental health care sooner
Other issues:
— reducing Nova Scotia’s dependence on coal by 2030
— building more affordable housing for those who urgently need homes
— increasing immigration so that Nova Scotia can double its population by 2060 and attract the workforce the province needs
— making child care affordable for all by honouring or improving the current federal-provincial agreement
