Shared Health Priorities and Safe Long-term Care Fund
The Government of Canada is taking leadership by engaging with provinces and territories to address key health care priorities, and working in partnership with them to strengthen health care systems so that they continue to meet the needs of Canadians. With an aging population, advancing technologies and increasing rates of chronic disease, it is more important than ever that our health care systems adapt to deliver better care and better outcomes.
Bilateral agreements
Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addiction Services
Budget 2017 confirmed an investment of $11 billion over ten years to provinces and territories specifically targeted to improve home and community care, and mental health and addiction services.
In August 2017, all provinces and territoriesFootnote 1 agreed to a Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities, which outlines common priorities for action in home and community care, and in mental health and addiction services.
The federal government then negotiated and signed Agreements with each province and territory that set out details of how each jurisdiction is using federal funding to improve access to home and community care, and mental health and addiction services.
Agreements for the first five years, which expired March 31, 2022, are available below. One-year extensions of the agreements are being implemented for 2022-23. This will provide provinces and territories an opportunity to evaluate their current needs, and adjust their plans for future investments that align with those outlined in the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities.
In the area of home and community care, these federal investments support initiatives that:
- better coordinate and integrate care,
- enhance digital connectivity and the use of remote technology so patients can get care at home,
- provide caregivers with more education supports and expanded respite services, and
- improve access to palliative and end-of-life supports.
In the area of mental health and addiction services, these federal investments support initiatives that:
- increase the availability of mental health and addiction services in the community,
- improve access to school-based programs for early prevention, detection and treatment, and
- expand access to crisis intervention services and integrated multidisciplinary professional services.
Safe Long-term Care Fund (2021)
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted long-standing and systemic challenges in Canada's long-term care (LTC) facilities.
Recognizing the need for action and Canadians' concern for themselves and their families, the 2020 Fall Economic Statement committed $1 billion through the Safe Long-term Care Fund (SLTCF) to support provinces and territories to protect those living and working in LTC settings, and improve infection prevention and control measures. Working with provinces and territories, existing agreements for home and community care, and mental health and addiction services were amended to support greater infection prevention and control, staffing and infrastructure in LTC facilities and seniors' residences providing continuing care services.
Provinces and territories used this funding to undertake a range of activities, including carrying out infection prevention and control readiness assessments, making improvements to ventilation and hiring additional staff or topping up wages.
Additionally, Budget 2021 included a $ 3 billion investment to ensure that provinces and territories can provide a high standard of care in their LTC facilities.
The federal government will continue to work collaboratively with provinces and territories, while respecting their jurisdiction over health care, including LTC. This work will ensure seniors and those in LTC facilities live in safe and dignified conditions.
Accountability
To enable Canadians to assess progress on the shared health priorities, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) led a process with federal, provincial and territorial officials to develop a focused set of common indicators following agreement on the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities. In June 2018, FPT Ministers of Health agreed to a set of 12 common indicators for home and community care, and mental health and addiction services. Results of these indicators are made public by CIHI on their webpage for Shared Health Priorities.
For Safe Long-term Care funding, provinces and territories provide an overview in the agreement of performance measures, targets and outcomes.
Alberta
- Canada-Alberta Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Alberta Funding Agreement (March 31, 2022)
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News releases
- Alberta's acceptance of the federal funding offer (March 10, 2017)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Alberta Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 24, 2022)
British Columbia
- Canada-British Columbia Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-British Columbia Funding Agreement (August 9, 2021)
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News releases
- British Columbia's acceptance of the federal funding offer (February 17, 2017)
- Canada-British Columbia Funding Agreement (September 21, 2018)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-British Columbia Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 13, 2021)
- 2022 to 2023 Canada-British Columbia Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement
- News release on the Canada-British Columbia Funding Agreement (April 12, 2023)
Manitoba
- Canada-Manitoba Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Manitoba Funding Agreement (March 30, 2022)
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News releases
- Manitoba's acceptance of the federal funding offer (August 21, 2017)
- Canada-Manitoba Funding Agreement (April 16, 2019)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Manitoba Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 25, 2022)
New Brunswick
- Canada-New Brunswick Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-New Brunswick Funding Agreement (March 31, 2022)
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News releases
- New Brunswick's acceptance of the federal funding offer (December 22, 2016)
- Canada-New Brunswick Funding Agreement (December 15, 2017)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-New Brunswick Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (April 19, 2022)
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Funding Agreement (July 28, 2021)
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News releases
- Newfoundland and Labrador's acceptance of the federal funding offer (December 23, 2016)
- Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Funding Agreement (January 24, 2018)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 6, 2021)
Northwest Territories
- Canada-Northwest Territories Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Northwest Territories Funding Agreement (August 4, 2021)
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News releases
- Northwest Territories' acceptance of the federal funding offer (January 16, 2017)
- Canada-Northwest Territories Funding Agreement (February 21, 2018)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Northwest Territories Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 12, 2021)
Nova Scotia
- Canada-Nova Scotia Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Nova Scotia Funding Agreement (December 15, 2021)
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News releases
- Nova Scotia's acceptance of the federal funding offer (December 23, 2016)
- Canada-Nova Scotia Funding Agreement (August 30, 2018)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Nova Scotia Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (February 24, 2022)
Nunavut
- Canada-Nunavut Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2019-20 to 2022-23]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Nunavut Funding Agreement (March 20, 2022)
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News releases
- Nunavut's acceptance of the federal funding offer (January 16, 2017)
- Canada-Nunavut Funding Agreement (May 9, 2019)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Nunavut Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (June 28, 2022)
Ontario
- Canada-Ontario Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Ontario Funding Agreement (March 31, 2022)
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News releases
- Ontario's acceptance of the federal funding offer (March 10, 2017)
- Canada-Ontario Funding Agreement (January 23, 2019)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Ontario Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (April 21, 2022)
- 2022 to 2023 Canada-Ontario Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement
- News release on the Canada-Ontario Funding Agreement (April 6, 2022)
Prince Edward Island
- Canada-Prince Edward Island Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Prince Edward Island Funding Agreement (August 10, 2017)
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News releases
- Prince Edward Island's acceptance of the federal funding offer (January 31, 2017)
- Canada-Prince Edward Island Funding Agreement (February 23, 2018)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Prince Edward Island Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 12, 2021)
- Canada-Prince Edward Island Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement 2022-23
Quebec
- Implementation Agreement on the March 10, 2017, Asymmetrical Agreement - Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services [2018-19 to 2021-22]
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News releases
- Quebec's acceptance of the federal funding offer (March 10, 2017)
- Amendment to the Asymmetrical Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (June 27, 2022)
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- Implementation Agreement on the March 10, 2017 Asymmetrical Agreement: Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
- News Release on the Canada-Quebec Funding Agreement (November 21, 2022)
Saskatchewan
- Canada-Saskatchewan Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Saskatchewan Funding Agreement (March 31, 2022)
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News releases
Yukon
- Canada-Yukon Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement [2018-19 to 2021-22]
- Safe Long-term Care Fund: Letter of Agreement to Amend Canada-Yukon Funding Agreement (August 10, 2021)
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News releases
- News release reflecting Yukon's acceptance of the federal funding offer (January 16, 2017)
- News Release on the Canada-Yukon Funding Agreement (July 25, 2018)
- Agreement to Amend Canada-Yukon Funding Agreement for the Safe Long-term Care Fund (August 13, 2021)
Footnote
- Footnote 1
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The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec agreed to an asymmetrical arrangement distinct from this Common Statement of Principles and based on the asymmetrical agreements of September 2004.
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