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Provincial Health Ministers Reach
New Deal on National Health Council

MICHAEL TUTTON (CP)

Canada's health ministers took steps Thursday to create a national watchdog for medicare, but failed to agree on the most contentious questions over its budget and mandate.

As a two-day meeting of federal and provincial ministers wrapped up in Halifax, the ministers said they would recommend and name members to the new, national health agency over the next seven weeks. They agreed to leave the more difficult negotiations over money and its mission to the premiers, who are scheduled to meet in October.

"That process will move forward now with a finite date," federal Health Minister Anne McLellan said at the conclusion of the meetings. "I think people should be very pleased today that the uncertainty has been lifted."

The agreement to press ahead with the council came after several provinces threatened to block the deal. British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta had all raised concerns over the agency's powers and how it would be funded.

But they appeared to back off Thursday.

Alberta Health Minister Gary Mar said he was able to move forward with the proposal because it now conforms with the vision described in the national health accord signed last February by the prime minister and premiers.

"What I saw in the last two days was enormous efforts to come to a mandate that was consistent with that established in the accord," Mar said.

"It remains to be seen whether we're able to continue on the same course. So far it looks very good."

McLellan said the funding for the council was spelled out in the federal budget and amounts to a maximum of $10 million annually. But it has yet to be determined how that money will be spent.

"We want it to be affordable . . . and we want it to be non-bureaucratic," she said.

The idea for a national council was first floated last November as a key element in Roy Romanow's royal commission on health care.

In his landmark report, the former Saskatchewan premier called for an independent body that would promote national health standards, monitor how the health system performs and co-ordinate national reforms.

He has since said the creation of the council is a "litmus test" of how serious Canada's health ministers are about preserving publicly funded health care.

McLellan had earlier threatened to go ahead with appointments to the council, despite objections from several provinces.

From the start, Quebec wasn't interested because it already has its own version of a heath council.

"Our position does not change," Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard said Thursday. "We will not participate in setting up this council . . . (But) we'll be happy to co-operate with them. It's simply maintaining Quebec's historical position."

Meanwhile, the ministers agreed to set up a Canadian Patient Safety Institute, a body that will develop initiatives among governments and other groups to reduce the number of medical errors.

McLellan said about 10,000 people die from medical errors every year in Canada.

"We must improve the safety of patients," the minister said. "When people turn to our health-care system, they have to know they can do so with confidence and trust."

The institute should be set up by the end of the year, McLellan said.

As well, McLellan said the ministers agreed to continue working on a so-called healthy living strategy.

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