Feds cut funding to body that monitors intergovernmental health accord

OTTAWA – The Health Council of Canada says it will no longer receive money from the federal government to keep tabs on an expiring health-care deal between Ottawa and the provinces.

The independent body is responsible for monitoring implementation of the 10-year, $41-billion health accord struck in 2004.

The council says it has been told there will no longer be a need for its work once that accord expires next year.

Chief executive John Abbott says Health Canada told him last week that funding would continue through this fiscal year, but come to an end after that.

A spokesman for Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says with the accord coming to an end next year, it made sense to wind up funding for the council.

When the current accord expires next year, the federal government will continue to increase its health transfers to the provinces for the next decade, but at a lower rate of increase, and with no strings attached.