Iqaluit (Feb 17/03) - A flurry of meetings after the recent health accord resulted in a drought of results, says Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik.

The premier stayed in Ottawa after the accord between the federal government and 10 provinces was signed, Feb. 6, to pursue other options to make the territorial case for additional health funding.

"We met with the Northern MPs and some Opposition members," Okalik says.

"I'm optimistic that some progress can be made, but that's up to the federal government," the premier says.

"We continue to work as three Northern leaders to pursue this. It's a pressing matter for our constituencies," Okalik says.

All three territorial leaders -- Okalik, Northwest Territory's Stephen Kakfwi and Yukon's Dennis Fentie -- refused to sign the accord that promised $12 billion in new health care money from the federal government to the provinces and territories.

The territorial share each year from this would have amounted to what Nunavut alone spends in a week.

The Northern premiers demand a more realistic funding formula for the North beyond a simple per capita calculation that doesn't consider the vast geography and sparse population of the North.

Still waiting

Post-accord questions in the House of Commons prompted Prime Minister Jean Chretien to hint at further meetings toward a separate deal for the territories, but Okalik isn't holding his breath for that to happen.

"It's open right now, so I don't know of any immediate meetings other than the health ministers getting together in a couple of weeks," Okalik says of any schedule to resolve the accord discord.

"We have made our expectations known to the federal government and to the prime minister's office," Okalik says. "We're still waiting for potential meetings that may take place."

The premiers rejected a planned Feb. 24 meeting with federal Health Minister Ann McLellan.

Kakfwi said any new health funding deal must come from the prime minister.