MP Johns calls for stronger federal health funding and action to protect public health care

NDP Health Critic welcomes $1.2 billion funding extension but urges permanent health care commitments and enforcement of Canada Health Act

OTTAWA – As federal, provincial and territorial health ministers meet in Winnipeg, NDP Health Critic Gord Johns (Courtenay–Alberni) is calling on the Liberal government to strengthen and protect Canada's public health care system through permanent funding commitments and vigorous enforcement of the Canada Health Act.

Johns welcomed Wednesday's announcement of a one-year, $1.2 billion extension for mental health, addictions, and home and community care, but emphasized that temporary funding is no substitute for a lasting federal commitment.

Over the past six months, Johns has repeatedly pressed the government in the House of Commons to renew the mental health funding, which was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2027. He cautioned that its loss would threaten essential services, health care jobs and access to care for vulnerable Canadians.”

"This is welcome news for patients, families and health care providers who have been facing uncertainty," said Johns. "New Democrats have been pushing for this funding to be renewed, and I'm pleased to finally see progress. But a one-year extension isn't enough, these essential services need stable, long-term funding."

Johns said the much larger challenge is securing predictable federal funding for Canada's entire public health care system. During Question Period on October 8, he called on the government to restore permanent six per cent annual increases to the Canada Health Transfer and support the premiers' demand that Ottawa cover 35 per cent of provincial and territorial health care costs.

Under current arrangements, the guaranteed annual increase in the Canada Health Transfer will fall from five per cent to a minimum of three per cent beginning in 2028–29.

"More than six million Canadians don't have a family doctor, and hospitals are under enormous pressure," Johns said. "Provinces and territories need predictable federal funding to recruit health professionals, expand primary care and reduce wait times. Investing in public health care is nation-building."

Johns also called on the federal government to defend the Canada Health Act against the expansion of two-tier health care, pointing specifically to Alberta's Bill 11, which allows physicians to provide both publicly insured and privately paid medical services.

"Alberta's Bill 11 opens the door to patients with money getting faster access to medically necessary care while everyone else waits," said Johns. "That's not the Canada Health Act's promise. Health care should be based on need, not the ability to pay and the federal government has a responsibility to defend that principle and enforce the law."

Johns warned that allowing private payment to determine access to medically necessary services risks undermining universal health care and drawing scarce health professionals away from the public system.