Working together to improve health care in Canada: Working Together bilateral agreements

The bilateral agreements are intended to be flexible and tailored, so that provinces and territories can address the unique needs of their populations and geography.

The funding for the bilateral agreements includes:

• $25 billion over 10 years to support the 4 shared health priorities
• $2.4 billion for mental health and substance use services remaining from the 2017 federal budget commitment to advance the Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities

As part of the bilateral agreements, provinces and territories commit to:

• draft action plans to describe how they will use federal funds, identify and measure targets, and report annually on their progress
• collaborate on health workforce priorities, including:
  • streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally-educated health professionals
  • advance labour mobility by making it easier for health care providers to work in different provinces or territories
  • collecting and securely sharing comparable information needed to improve health care for people in Canada
  • adopting common standards to better connect Canada's health care system, including with the implementation of the Shared Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap
  • aligning policies and legislative frameworks to support the use of health information for the public good
  • advancing in person-centered principles outlined in the Pan-Canadian Health Data Charter for the management of health information
  • helping better manage public health emergencies

  The bilateral agreements are underpinned by key principles, including:

  • a shared responsibility to uphold the Canada Health Act that protects access to health care for people in Canada
  • principles agreed to in the 2017 Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities
  • reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, recognizing their right to fair and equal access to health services free from racism and discrimination anywhere in Canada, including meaningful engagement and work with Indigenous organizations and governments
  • equal access to health services for equity-seeking groups and individuals, including those in official language minority communities

  Working Together funding agreements and news releases

  Alberta

  • Canada-Alberta Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
    • News release: Canada signs more than $1 billion bilateral agreement with Alberta to improve health care over three years (December 21, 2023)

    British Columbia

    • Canada-British Columbia Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
      • News release: Canada signs $1.2 billion bilateral agreement with British Columbia to improve health care over three years (October 10, 2023)

      Manitoba

      • Canada-Manitoba Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
        • News release: More doctors, more nurses, shorter wait times in Manitoba (February 15, 2024)

        New Brunswick

        • Canada-New Brunswick agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
          • News release: Government of Canada signs two bilateral agreements with New Brunswick to improve health care and long-term care in the province (March 26, 2024)

          Newfoundland and Labrador

          • Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
            • News release: Canada signs close to $256 million bilateral agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador to improve health care over three years (March 25, 2024)

            Northwest Territories

            • Canada-Northwest Territories Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
              • News release: Government of Canada signs two bilateral agreements with the Northwest Territories to improve health care (February 13, 2024)

              Nova Scotia

              • Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
                • News release: Canada signs over $355 million bilateral agreement with Nova Scotia to improve health care over three years (January 10, 2024)

                Nunavut

                • Canada-Nunavut Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
                  • News release: Government of Canada signs two bilateral agreements with Nunavut for better health care, closer to home (March 5, 2024)

                  Ontario

                  • Canada-Ontario Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
                    • News release: Cutting wait times, delivering better health care in Ontario (February 9, 2024)

                    Prince Edward Island

                    • Canada-Prince Edward Island Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
                      • News release: Canada signs $94 million bilateral agreement with Prince Edward Island to improve health care over three years (December 19, 2023)

                      Quebec

                      • Canada-Quebec Agreement on Federal Funding to Support Quebec’s Health Priorities (2023-24 to 2025-27)
                        • News release: Government of Canada signs two bilateral agreements with Quebec to support initiatives to improve health care (March 27, 2024)

                        Saskatchewan

                        • Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
                          • News release: Government of Canada signs two bilateral agreements with Saskatchewan to support initiatives to improve health care (March 18, 2024)

                          Yukon

                          • Canada-Yukon Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians (2023-24 to 2025-26)
                            • News release: Government of Canada signs agreements with Yukon delivering nearly $86 million to improve health care (March 12, 2024)