Transfer payments to top Atlantic Premiers agenda

Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz expects transfer payments from Ottawa to the Atlantic provinces will likely top the agenda of the Council of Atlantic Premiers meeting Sunday.

The meeting is happening in Sussex, N.B.

Ghiz said most of the transfer agreements expire in 2014 and are up for negotiation. He said that includes the Canada Health transfer, the Canada Social transfer and equalization payments.

"As a region we are probably upwards of 35 per cent dependent on federal transfers that come down to Atlantic Canada ... and we need to make sure that when the federal government goes into these negotiations that they see our point of view, that we are different in a number of ways," said Ghiz.

Ghiz said the four Atlantic provinces have older populations than provinces like Alberta. He said that creates more financial strain on the health care system and should be factored into the funding formula that Ottawa uses.

Ghiz expects the premiers will continue to look at new ways of sharing costs by purchasing medications and medical equipment together.