Quebec premier calls on Justin Trudeau to meet on health care: ‘It’s a real problem’

Quebec premier François Legault called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to come to the table, instead of sending ministers to speak through the media, he said.

Canada’s premiers have wrapped a second day of meetings in British Columbia, but they failed to secure a meeting with the federal government to speak about provincial health care needs.

Quebec Premier François Legault called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to come to the table, instead of sending ministers to speak through the media, he said.

“We need to have a meeting,” Legault said. “It’s a real problem, it’s the most important problem in Canada; so I don’t understand why Mr. Trudeau doesn’t want to meet us.”

On Monday, the minister of intergovernmental affairs told CBC it would be “absurd” to increase federal health transfers.

Dominic Leblanc added Canada does not expect the money to be used to run up surpluses or send cheques to people on the eve of an election.

“It’s a bit insulting to send Mr. Leblanc or Mr. Duclos answering our request,” Legault replied.

Leblanc’s comment didn’t sit well with the rest of the premiers either.

“There’s nobody here who is trying to scrimp on a healthcare budget and divert it somewhere else, that’s not happening,” said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. “The only thing that’s stopping that progress on that is the federal government’s willingness to sit down and talk to us. That’s all we’re asking.”