On March 18, 2023, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health, announced two bilateral agreements totaling over $560 million in federal funding to enhance health care in Saskatchewan.
The Working Together Agreement will provide nearly $391 million to support Saskatchewan’s three-year action plan, aiming to improve access to family health services, acute and urgent care, support the health workforce, expand mental health and substance use support, and modernize health care systems with digital tools.
Additionally, the Aging with Dignity agreement will provide approximately $169.3 million to support Saskatchewan’s five-year action plan, focusing on enhancing home and community care services, improving palliative care, and strengthening the quality of long-term care and home care services.
According to Minister Holland, “Canadians deserve to get the health care they need, no matter their age or where they live. By working together with the province of Saskatchewan, these agreements will reduce wait times, make it easier to see a doctor, and ensure our seniors can age with dignity. Tailored to Saskatchewan’s unique needs, this funding focuses on what matters most: better health care for the people of Saskatchewan.”
Minister Hindley said that “We are pleased to sign these two health funding agreements with the federal government that will benefit Saskatchewan residents and communities. The federal funding commitment will build on provincial investments and help accelerate and expand initiatives already underway to meet the health needs of growing province, build stronger health teams, and modernize the health system.”
And Minister McLeod stated that “We are committed to providing quality health services and programs to support our seniors to live safely and comfortably in their homes and communities. Federal funding in Saskatchewan’s Aging with Dignity agreement will contribute to achieving this goal through improved long-term and palliative care, and enhanced home and community care.”
These agreements will also facilitate the collection, sharing, and use of health information, streamline foreign credential recognition for health professionals, and uphold the Canada Health Act. They include commitments to engage meaningfully with Indigenous partners to improve access to quality and culturally-appropriate health care services.