Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon has endorsed the premiers’ request for a meeting to secure a fair health care funding deal for the territories and provinces from Ottawa.

Recently, the premiers have been seeking a sit-down meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the issue; however, the federal Liberal government has not accepted the request.

“Outgoing Yukon Premier Sandy Silver has undercut the calls of the other premiers,” Dixon said in a statement last Thursday.

According to an article in the Globe and Mail published Dec. 10, Dixon said, “Silver states the best way to facilitate a meeting with the prime minister is to take health care off the table.

“Canada’s premiers have been asking for a meeting with the prime minister regarding health care for months,” said Dixon.

“It’s puzzling to have the outgoing premier suggest the best way to talk to the prime minister is to take health care off the table.

I support Canada’s premiers in their reasonable request to have a meeting with the prime minister to talk about health care funding needs, and negotiate increased federal funding.”

Even the Yukon Medical Association believes the premiers and the prime minister should set aside their differences and get back to the table, Dixon added.

A Dec. 7 release says “governments should work through their differences,” Dixon noted, and urges the Yukon government to work with its national counterparts on a real solution.

Across the country, every jurisdiction has experienced major growth in the cost of delivering health care to its people.

Federal health funding through both the Canada Health Transfer and the Territorial Health Investment Fund has not grown enough to meet the need, the Yukon Party said.

“With the territorial Liberals in the throes of a leadership campaign, candidates need to clarify their stance on this important issue.

“Yukon’s premier should be a strong partner supporting other premiers at the national table, in contrast to the approach taken by the current premier, who acts as a representative of the Trudeau Liberals at the Council of the Federation,” the official Opposition said.

Last Thursday, the Star asked the campaign of Ranj Pillai, the only candidate for the Yukon Liberal Party’s Jan. 28 leadership convention, if a comment might be available on the Yukon Party’s remarks.

There was no response.

Cabinet communication staff did reply to the Star’s inquiry, however.

“Premier Silver has been a strong and reliable leader in the national conversation to increase funding and improve health care delivery,” the cabinet staff said in a statement.

“Earlier this month, Premier Silver met with Prime Minister Trudeau as well as (Health) Minister (Jean-Yves) Duclos and emphasized the importance of premiers and the federal government coming together as leaders to have a serious conversation about moving forward collaboratively on health care for the benefit of all Canadians.

“The Yukon is in the process of transforming the territory’s health and social services system into a national leader as we continue to implement Putting People First,” the statement added.

“This modernization will better meet the needs of Yukoners and serves as an example of a constructive approach to improving health care outcomes that maximizes the value of investment.”