Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and her provincial and territorial counterparts concluded a two-day meeting in Calgary on Friday, reaffirming their shared commitment to addressing the nation’s most urgent health challenges — from the fentanyl crisis to ensuring equitable access to pharmaceuticals and frontline care.
In a joint statement, the ministers emphasized the importance of collaboration and modernization in improving patient outcomes. “Access to timely, quality health care is a fundamental part of what Canadians expect and deserve,” the statement said. “Ensuring that health care is accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay, remains a shared commitment.”
The discussions covered a wide range of priorities, including the growing opioid and fentanyl crisis, the need for a stronger and more sustainable health workforce, and the use of digital tools and innovation to modernize the delivery of care.
Minister Michel described the gathering as a renewed spirit of cooperation between Ottawa and the provinces. “We addressed the challenges created by the current context south of the border, but also the opportunities that come with it,” she said, pledging to reconvene after the federal budget on November 4 to continue advancing solutions.
Alberta’s Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange said the discussions underscored the urgent need for Ottawa to boost financial support to the provinces. “The Canada Health Transfer is not keeping pace with the rising cost of delivering care,” she said, warning that without greater federal investment, both patients and health workers will suffer.
LaGrange joined other ministers in calling for Ottawa to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach to health funding and instead provide long-term, predictable, and equitable investment tailored to each region’s needs.
“With equitable and sustainable investment from the federal government, we can sustain, improve, and transform our health-care systems to meet the needs of patients right across the country,” LaGrange said.
The meeting signaled a renewed focus on collaboration, innovation, and accountability across jurisdictions — a crucial step as Canada faces an escalating opioid epidemic, staffing shortages, and mounting pressure on its health infrastructure.