Governments of Canada and Manitoba Sign Agreement to Improve Health Care Services

WINNIPEG, April 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada's universal, publicly funded health system is a source of pride for Canadians. The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to strengthen health care and adapt the system to the changing needs of Canadians.

Today, the governments of Canada and Manitoba announced details of a bilateral agreement on home and community care and mental health and addiction services. The agreement outlines how the province plans to invest its share of the $11 billion over 10 years announced by the federal government in Budget 2017.

With support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba will invest in a range of initiatives. These include:

• expanding Manitoba's proven model of home care;
• developing intensive, community-based home care and supports to help avoid hospitalizations and long-term care admissions;
• enhancing supports for rural palliative care;
• increasing access to coordinated care for mental health and addiction services;
• implementing peer support in formal health care settings for patients with mental health and addiction issues; and
• implementing a pregnancy and infant-loss program.  

These initiatives are fully aligned with the objectives and the pan-Canadian priorities set out in the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities endorsed by the federal government, provinces* and territories in August 2017.

Manitoba will invest federal funding of approximately $182 million over five years to specific activities within these initiatives. This federal funding is part of a 10-year federal financial commitment of approximately $400 million for Manitoba.

* The federal government has agreed to an asymmetrical arrangement with Quebec, distinct from the Common Statement of Principles.

Quotes

"Today's agreement will improve access to mental health and addiction services for Manitobans, as well as enhance home and community care services in the province. The Government of Canada is committed to working collaboratively with the provinces and territories to ensure that Canadians have timely access to the health care services they need."

The Honourable Jim Carr,
Minister of International Trade Diversification

"We inherited a health-care system marked by long wait times that experts said was overly complex. We are changing and improving that system. This agreement will help us build on initiatives we've already undertaken to strengthen mental health and addictions services while improving home care services that Manitobans, particularly seniors and older adults, will increasingly need as our population ages in the years to come."

The Honourable Cameron Friesen,
Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living

Quick Facts

• In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada committed $11 billion over 10 years in new funding for provinces and territories to improve access to home and community care and mental health and addiction services for Canadians.
• Canadians will see how targeted federal funding for home care and mental health will be invested in each province and territory, and will be able to track progress based on a focused set of common indicators currently being developed.
• In 2021-22, bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories will be renewed for the remaining five years of the 10-year commitment.

Related Products
Backgrounder
Agreement with Manitoba

Associated Links
Common Statement of Principles News Release
Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Thierry Bélair, Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, [phone]; Health Canada, Media Relations, 613-957-2983, [e-mail]