The Yukon has no plans to follow Ontario's lead in grabbing extra taxes to pay for health care.

Health Minister Peter Jenkins was asked today if the Yukon government would introduce health care premiums like Ontario's Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty announced he would in last month's provincial budget.

'Suicide is dangerous,' Jenkins replied to the question.

The minister said the issue has never been on the table for the governing Yukon Party.

'Our government is committed to no new taxes and no new charges.'

Yukon health care premiums were eliminated by the territory's first NDP government elected in 1985.

McGuinty's plan calls for an increase on income taxes. For the average person making $36,000, that would mean $300 per year.

Jenkins brought up the Ontario government's recent move to take more cash from taxpayers to pay for health care during a press conference this morning. He discussed his recent trip to a health and finance ministers' conference in Toronto.

When the meeting started, according to Jenkins, the Ontario leader introduced himself as 'Premium McGuinty' instead of premier.

McGuinty and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell are jointly leading the group of ministers assembling a report for all the premiers to look at when they next meet on how to improve the health care system.

While the meeting was for both finance and health ministers, Jenkins was the only elected official representing the Yukon, as Premier and Finance Minister Dennis Fentie did not attend.

Jenkins was joined by two aides from the Yukon's Ottawa office, as well as the deputy ministers of the Executive Council Office and Health and Social Services.

A key in the gathering was the seven groups the ministers came up with which will each report on a specific issue.

Those specific topics they are reviewing are:

• health human resources;

• pharmaceuticals;

• electronic health registry;

• waiting lists;

• funding;

• remote funding requirements;

• information and telehealth.

Officials from the Yukon government are working on the last two groups, which are both being led by the Northwest Territories.

Each of the groups will come up with a report on the challenges in the specific categories and solutions.

Those reports will make up a final document which McGuinty and Campbell will take to the next meeting of the premiers and the 'new prime minister of Canada,' said Jenkins.

The meeting will come after the June 28 federal election.

As for the Yukon, Jenkins said the territory is worried about closing the gap between what it received through its annual formula financing transfer payments in 1990 to now.

He said there have been cuts or caps to the formula financing over the last 15 years, starting in 1990.

Nationally, the provinces want to see a reduction in the gap between the percentage of health care budgets Ottawa used to supply and what the federal government dishes out now.

While that is important to the territory, Jenkins said that covers health but not the social services side, which is why the Yukon wants to see increases to its formula financing from Ottawa.

Money received through the formula can go anywhere.