There is plenty of reaction to Thursday’s announcement of a bilateral healthcare funding deal between the Trudeau Liberals in Ottawa and the Ford Progressive Conservatives at Queen’s Park.

Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, wants the new funding to be used to enhance Ontario’s public healthcare system, “because that’s what the public needs if we want to achieve universal healthcare for all without compromising a two-tier system which is where we are heading.”

Grinspun is referencing the new Ford government healthcare reform bill, which allows for some procedures to take place in private clinics, paid for with public money.

The new bilaterial deal gives Ontario and additional $8.4-billion over 10 years for so called shared healthcare priorities and $776-million through an immediate, one time Canada Health Transfer top up to address urgent needs, especially in pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms along with long wait times for surgeries.

Ontario NDP Health Critic France Gelinas told Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer the $776-million will be delivered by the end of this March.

Listen for Libby’s full conversation with France Gelinas by clicking here.

In addition, the agreement points to a shared health priority of helping Canadians age with dignity, closer to home with access to home care or care in a safe long term care facility. This is work that is said to be already underway.