The territory's health minister says he's optimistic the Yukon will continue to receive the necessary health funding from the federal government even with the introduction of a new federal health funding plan.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced Ottawa's plan to continue raising health transfer payments at six per cent annually for the next six years before tying the transfer dollars to the rate of economic growth and inflation.

Many provincial leaders have since expressed anger at the plan, claiming it was announced without any chance for debate nor discussion.

According to the most recent budget, last year, the Yukon received $28.6 million in health transfer dollars.

Unlike other leaders who claim Flaherty's plan was announced in a take-it-or-leave-it manner, Health and Social Services Minster Doug Graham echoed Premier Darrell Pasloski's radio comments this morning by calling the decision "an opening offer”.

"I believe there's some room for negotiation there,” he said.

Graham said he is banking on Pasloski's relationship with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to help Ottawa recognize the unique situation the northern territories face when it comes to the cost of remaining health.

"The prime minister has already stated he has a commitment to the North, and we have to believe that's going to continue,” Graham told the Star.

Aside from the health transfer dollars, the territory also receives federal health money from other government programs, which Graham said shouldn't be affected by Flaherty's decision.

These include the Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative (THSSI) which, among other things, helps to offset medical transportation expenses in the North.

Last year, the territory received about $8 million from the initiative, which was recently extended for another two years, Graham said.

Connecting the transfer dollars to economic growth could be a good thing for the territory, Graham said.

"The way things are developing here in the North in terms of our growth and population, six per cent is not enough,” he said.

Of course that's provided the economy continues to grow, he said, admitting that the nature of the economy could make some people nervous.

Flaherty has said the health transfer payment increases will never fall below three per cent.

Federal health care transfers to the Yukon are at an all-time high and will continue to grow, Yukon MP Ryan Leef said Tuesday.

"Yukon will receive record-high support through major federal transfers in 2012-13 totalling $809 million – an increase of $276 million (or 52 per cent) under the previous Liberal government,” the MP said.

According to his reseach, this money includes:

• $767 million through territorial formula financing, an increase of $266 million (or 53 per cent);

• $30 million through the Canada Health Transfer, an increase of over $7 million (or 34 per cent); and

• $12 million through the Canada Social Transfer, an increase of over $2 million (or 24 per cent).

"I know how important a reliable health care system is for the Yukon and for our territory.” Leef said.

"The continued investments across the North, including Yukon, by the federal Conservative government are significant signs to the territory that our government values northern Canadians.”

Further growth will be sustainable, the MP said, as it will be in line with Canada's economy (as measured by the nominal Gross Domestic Product), which is estimated to be at a rate of more than four per cent growth a year.

"However, to ensure predictability for the provinces and territories, our Conservative government has guaranteed annual growth of three per cent or more each year,” said Leef.

"That means federal support for health care will keep growing every year beyond the record levels the federal government has already invested – and in a way that is both predictable and sustainable.

"This will help ensure Canada's health care system – including Yukon's hospitals, doctors, nurses, and more – will be there when Yukoners need it.”

– With files from The Canadian Press.

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