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Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff participates in a First Nations Pow Wow in Regina
REGINA-Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff praised former prime minister Paul Martin, Saturday, saying he deserves the credit for new federal investments in healthcare in recent years.
Ignatieff, who was to be joined in the evening by Martin on his campaign tour in Edmonton, credited the former Liberal leader for working with the provinces to achieve a ten-year funding agreement with the provinces in 2004.
In contrast, he said that Conservative leader Stephen Harper had failed to build on that accord.
“Mr. Stephen Harper has not put a dime, a red nickel, a red cent into healthcare since he came into office,” Ignatieff said. “Every single dime spent by that government is money booked by Paul Martin in the 2004 accord, and that has set the standard for the public financing of a public healthcare system ever since.”
He also noted that Martin was part of the government that eliminated the deficit and left the Tories with a multibillion surplus when they first formed a government in 2006.
Both the Liberals and Conservatives have promises to extend the accord which increases annual federal healthcare transfers by six per cent every year.
But Ignatieff said that some premiers have expressed concerns about whether the deal would be extended with a continuing partnership between the different levels of government
“Stephen Harper basically walked away from the healthcare for five years,” Ignatieff said. “We want to get the federal government back into discussions with the provinces about home care.”
The Liberals have promised to improve employment insurance benefits and support for Canadians who care for loved ones at home.
Ignatieff also noted that the concern was raised during a town hall meeting, one night earlier, by a truck driver wearing a cowboy hat who was forced to take time off to take care of his ailing wife.
“This is Canadian healthcare in 2011,” said Ignatieff. “I have to be there for that guy in that cowboy hat… I’ve got to serve his interests as we go forward, and I want to have discussions with the provinces on healthcare, not in 2014, not in 2013, not in 2012, but in 2011.”
Ignatieff also delivered remarks at a First Nations University Annual Pow Wow in Regina before heading to Alberta.
He pledged that a Liberal government would work with Aboriginals on a host of issues, including a promise to launch an inquiry into the high number of missing and murdered women from Aboriginal communities.
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