WINNIPEG (CP - August 12, 2000) - Canada's premiers agreed to a new framework for health care renewal Friday night that makes no provision for a expanded federal role. The premiers and territorial leaders emerged late Friday night after all day discussions on health care and other issues.

      "I am incredibly satisfied with the results of this conference," said Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard. The communique they will send to Ottawa implores it to restore funding to 1994 levels without strings.

      "We believe it's fundamental and absolutely imperative that to sustain our system we immediately return to the $18.7 billion that was being paid by the federal government in '94 and '95 and has been cut in that year and not returned," said Manitoba Premier Gary Doer.

      All the premiers and territorial leaders reaffirmed the fundamental principles of the Canada Health Act, said British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh.

      While they discussed privatized health care, "the time on the agenda did not permit a full discussion.

      "That discussion remains unconcluded and we're satisfied with that at this time."

      Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said he had "no hesitation" in signing a communique that reaffirms the principles of publicly funded health care - universality, accessibility and portability.

      Several of the premiers do not agree with Klein's new private-health legislation which, as of this fall, will permit extended patient stays at private clinics for minor surgical procedures.

      Critics say overnight stays with private providers establishes private hospitals in Alberta and lays the groundwork for a two-tiered health system favouring the wealthy.

      The premiers also reached agreements on early childhood development and on what they call a fiscal inbalance in Canada.

      Under federal transfers, wealthy provinces such as Alberta lose tax dollars to support have-not provinces.

      Bouchard has been the most outspoken in telling the federal government to butt out and let the provinces handle health care.

      He wants federal health money with no strings attached and has urged his fellow premiers not to give in to what he calls blackmail and attempts to "divide and conquer."

      But Newfoundland Premier Brian Tobin, the only Liberal provincial leader, has said it's nonsensical to expect the federal government to transfer over billions of dollars and not monitor where it is spent.

      The premiers will take their communique to the federal Liberals at a first ministers conference, expected in mid-September.

© The Canadian Press, 2000