February 15, 2023
The Canadian Council for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) notes of the $46.2 billion pledged by the federal government ostensibly for health, $19.5 billion comes with no conditions attached, meaning provincial and territorial governments could spend that cash in other areas which don't address issues in the care system. The on-the-dollar amounts vary by jurisdiction, with Alta. and B.C. required to spend just under the national average, 57 cents of every dollar on health expenditures. The CCPA adds this "no strings attached" approach comes at a time when healthcare is in crisis but many provinces are running budget surpluses, leading it to believe the funding issue is more ideologically- than fiscally-driven.