The provinces had the ten years of 6% escalation in federal funds that Paul Martin set up in order to recompense them for having to cut transfers while eliminating the deficit. Harper apparently then extended it by a year or two. When Martin initially set up the 6% deal, he tried to get evidence from the Provinces that they did in fact spend the extra funds on healthcare, something that they refused to do and there are in fact stories that they used some of those funds for non healthcare related matters. The offer from the Trudeau government of extra funds for mental health and home care with accountability shown of where the funds are spent was similarly rejected by those provinces who are now pressing for a meeting but accepted by those who have reached deals separately. 6% isn't coming back any time soon, especially when Trudeau and Morneau are already under political pressure on deficits. The provinces have to act further to control their own health care costs.