Ottawa needs to bring in a budget as soon as possible, says Ontario Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

“A federal budget is needed to make it clear to Canadians just what the federal government’s fiscal outlook is for the short term and to lay out how it plans to meet its responsibility to support a fair and sustainable health care system,” Flaherty said just before the start of a provincial-territorial meeting of finance ministers.

Flaherty said that Federal Finance Minister Paul Martin should reveal to Canadians a detailed plan for dealing with the current economic uncertainty, and how the events surrounding September 11 have affected the federal government’s fiscal position.

He noted that the government of Ontario has expressed confidence in the economy by proposing to accelerate its personal and corporate income tax cuts and focusing on the flow of goods and people between Ontario and the U.S.

Martin also needs to assure Canadians that the federal government will pay its fair share of the costs of Canada’s health care system, he added. The provinces and territories have called on the federal government to restore the Canada Health and Social Transfer to at least 18% of provincial spending on health and social programs. Flaherty indicated the importance of keeping pressure on the federal government to make the needed improvements to the CHST to ensure that provinces can provide Canadians in the future with the health care that they demand.

“Now, more than ever, is the time to ensure that Canada’s publicly funded health care systems are sustainable in the long term,” Flaherty said.