Inuvik (July 12/04) - Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik and his western counterparts have called on the federal government to pump more money into health care and improve patient services in remote communities.

Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik talks about the need to improve the delivery of medical services in remote communities. Andrew Raven/NNSL photo -

"We want some good, practical steps to fix the financial issues (surrounding health care)" said NWT Premier Joe Handley, who chaired the meeting of seven Western and Northern premiers, held July 8-9 in Inuvik.

All of the premiers, including Alberta's Ralph Klein, affirmed their support for the Canada Health Act and said they did not discuss the privatization of medical services.

But they stressed funding from federal government needs to be more consistent in order for the current system to function properly.

"It's crucial for the future of health care," said Saskatchewan's Lorne Calvert.

One of the chief concerns for Okalik and Handley is the delivery of health care in Canada's remote regions.

Handley said the federal government needs to understand the "cost of delivering services is much more expensive in the North."

He called the current system of medevacing patients from outlying communities "inefficient" and said more money needs to be pumped into preventative programs.

Okalik and Handley also stressed the need to improve the overall health of the aboriginal population, which Handley said lags behind the rest of the country.

Resource control

The three territorial premiers -- Handley, Okalik and the Yukon's Dennis Fentie -- also used the forum to call for more control over natural resources and the $90 million in federal funding Ottawa has earmarked for economic development in the North.

"All jurisdictions should manage and control their resources and pace of development," the seven premiers wrote in an open letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin. The premiers also threw their support behind devolution initiatives in the NWT and Nunavut, calling on Martin to speed up the process.

"The North has the potential to become economically self sustaining. But this potential cannot be realized without a federal commitment ... to devolution," they wrote.

"We call on you to make a strong political commitment to conclude meaningful negotiations and fair devolution deal without delay."