Finance Minister Says Its Not Up To Ottawa To Fix Healthcare In Province

Federal transfer payments account for 20 per cent of the healthcare budget and they won't be increasing. Prime Minister Harper made that clear to the Premiers.

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says that means the Alward Government will have to take the bull by the horns and make changes to rein in spending and make the system more efficient regardless of the flak.

Higgs is optimistic the right changes will free up more money to be spent better but he concedes people are sensitive anytime they hear about healthcare changing.