A healthcare deal between B.C. and the federal government that will give the province an immediate infusion of $273 million was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier David Eby in Langley on Wednesday.

Trudeau announced an agreement in principle for a plan that will see Ottawa transfer $27.47 billion over 10 years to B.C., including $3.32 billion for a new bilateral agreement focused on shared health priorities.

B次元官网网址淓ach agreement will be tailored and flexible to the needs of each province and territory,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said. B次元官网网址淏ut consistent among all is the joint responsibility to collect information that monitors how the health care system is performing.B次元官网网址�

That includes the percentage of Canadians who have a family doctor, and the length of wait lists for surgery.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e doing this because what gets measured gets done,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said.

He also said the agreement moves towards getting foreign-trained doctors, nurses, and other health workers to get their credentials recognized or updated so they can work in the Canadian health systems.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e fast tracking immigration pathways for health care workers like nurses and doctors,B次元官网网址� Eby said, to get them B次元官网网址渙ff the sidelines and into the health care system.B次元官网网址�

Eby said that the federal funding is part of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 plans, including new money announced in the B.C. budget on Feb. 28 for cancer care and mental health and addictions.

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B次元官网网址淭hese past few years have been incredibly difficult for health care workers,B次元官网网址� Eby said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been hard on British Columbians too.B次元官网网址�

He said the immediate $273 million is to go towards issues like the hospitals and ERs, including rural health facilities, that have been so understaffed they have had to close on the weekends or some nights.

The lack of family doctors and fears that people canB次元官网网址檛 get care quickly at ERs are problems theyB次元官网网址檙e trying to address, Eby said.

The premier pointedly said that private care or a two-tier care system was not the way to go.

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 shorten the line, it just changes whoB次元官网网址檚 at front,B次元官网网址� Eby said.

The new deal ensures stable funding, he said, including targeted funding in areas like family health services in rural and remote areas, reducing backlogs, modernizing tracking health care data, addiction services, and home care and long-term care.

The province and Ottawa will now work on an initial three-year plan where the province and federal government will agree on timelines and detailed health targets.

Trudeau also announced that Saskatchewan has signed an agreement in principle as of Wednesday. Most provinces have now signed a deal with the federal government for the additional health funding.