OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced last week the federal government is delivering an additional $2 billion in health care funding to provinces and territories, including $140 million for Atlantic Canada.
Officials say the Canada Health Transfer top-up will support efforts to reduce backlogs and respond to urgent pressures in emergency rooms, operating rooms, and pediatric hospitals.
“Strengthening Canada’s public health care system requires investment—and that is what the federal government is delivering,” said Freeland in a statement.
“It is part of our plan to work with provinces and territories to ensure that Canadians have timely access to the high quality health care they expect and deserve.”
The federal government says the top-up builds on $6.5 billion in one-time top-ups provided to provinces and territories during the COVID-19 pandemic. This top-up is also in addition to the $49.4 billion in Canada Health Transfer funding provided in 2023-24.
Health officials say New Brunswick will get an additional $42 million in federal health funding, making it $1.08 billion this year. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia will get an extra $52 million and Prince Edward Island will receive $9 million.
Newfoundland and Labrador will get an extra $27 million.
“As part of the federal government’s comprehensive plan to strengthen Canada’s public health care system, this Canada Health Transfer top-up is an additional investment to improve the health care Canadians receive,” officials said in a statement.
“It is not to be used by provinces and territories in place of their own health care spending.”