The premier and minister of health and social services return to Whitehorse today empty-handed, with no new health care deal to gift Yukoners.

Talks in Ottawa came to an unsatisfactory end Monday.

Provincial and territorial ministers said the federal government refused to negotiate, and federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said the provinces and territories turned down a perfectly good offer.

Premier Sandy Silver, who is also the minister of finance, and Pauline Frost were both in Ottawa for the talks.

Silver said for the Yukon, the difference between the federal options and what the provinces were asking for is nominal.

Changes to the health transfer, which is doled out on a per capita basis, have a greater impact on larger jurisdictions, he said.

“‘Look, if you need unity, then we’ll be there for unity’s sake’; that’s what we said to the provinces,” Silver over the phone at noon today from the Vancouver airport.

To federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Silver said, “This is a relatively small amount in the differences, in the thresholds, so we want to talk to you about THIF (Territorial Health Investment Fund).”

In addition to the Canada Health Transfer, the territories get an annual parcel of federal funds through the Territorial Health Investment Fund, said Pat Living, a spokesperson for the Yukon’s Department of Health and Social Services.

Unlike the Canada Health Transfer, which jurisdictions can spend as they please as long as its health-related, the THIF is targeted at specific, regional health initiatives. In the Yukon, the last cheque went toward chronic disease treatment and mental health, said Living.

THIF is separate and distinct from the Canada Health Transfer and the Territorial Formula Financing payment, the annual, unconditional sum the territories get from Ottawa each year.

Silver said the Yukon’s Liberal government wants more control over how THIF is allocated, and that Morneau is open to talking about it.

THIF was established in 2004 and is renegotiated every three years. It’s set to expire at the end of March 2017.

Silver told Morneau he wants THIF funding to, at least, continue at its current level, if not rise. He did not however, have specific dollar increase in mind.

“It’s more that we have specific needs... fentanyl is now reaching the Yukon as well, so every region has its unique considerations.”

On average, the territory has received about $4.3 million a year for Yukon-specific projects, and additional funds for medical travel as part of THIF, said Living.

In 2016-17, the Yukon got $600,000 to help offset the costs of sending Yukoners to Whitehorse, or down south for treatment.

The federal government used to split health care spending with the provinces and territories 50/50, said Silver, but that doesn’t happen anymore.

“There’s lots of emerging health concerns, whether it be new technologies or new issues, the current status quo is not enough,” he said.

The Canada Health transfer is the sum of money allocated to each province and territory to spend on health care.

Since 2004, the transfer payment has grown each year by six per cent.

The previous Stephen Harper government changed the formula in 2011 so that starting in the 2016-17 fiscal year, the health transfer would rise according to a rolling, three-year average of the nominal GDP, or by three per cent per year, depending which was higher.

Unsurprisingly, the provinces and territories aren’t thrilled with the Conservative plan.

Last Friday, Ottawa offered to increase the health transfer to 3.5 per cent per year with an extra $8 billion over 10 years for mental health and home care.

According to media reports, the provinces expressed the worry that they’d be on the line to supplement mental health and home care funding when the decade is up. They also asked for a 5.2 per cent annual increase to the health transfer.

Philpott came back with a proposed 3.5 per cent escalator for five years, with the next five years to be decided at a later date, and $11.5 billion over 10 years for home care and mental health.

Also on the table was $544 million over five years for prescription drugs and “health innovation.”

But with no agreement reached by the end of the day Monday, the transfer payouts will default to the three per cent increase previously slated for April 2017.

The additional federal funds for mental health and home care are still on the table, said Silver, “but (Ottawa is) perplexed as to how they’re going to spend that money now.”

“The ball’s kind of in their court,” he said.

It’s possible, Silver said, that the health care debate will roll over to the next first ministers’ meeting.

“Everybody needs more money, is basically it,” he said.

The provinces argued that Ottawa’s proposals amounted to less federal health spending in the long run, said Silver, and the feds said their offer is more money than is currently spent on health care.

“It’s fun with numbers,” Silver told the Star.

The Yukon is set to receive $38 million for health care in 2017-18, $1 million more than the previous year.

This is in addition to $14 million it will get from the Canada Social Transfer and $919 million that comprises the Territorial Formula Financing payment.

All told, the territory will get $972 million in transfers from Ottawa in the year ahead.

Last year, the territory received a total of $946 million in federal dollars.

Speaking to the Yukon Medical Association last month, Dr. Granger Avery, the president of the Canadian Medical Association, recommended additional funding for jurisdictions with greater proportions of seniors.

Silver said he “absolutely” agrees with Avery’s position.

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