Health Minister Jane Philpott plans to start work on new health accord next week

Health Minister Jane Philpott says she plans to talk with her provincial and territorial counterparts as soon as next week as the Liberals set the wheels in motion for establishing a new health accord.

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In an interview, Philpott says the government says the agreement is a high priority because executing many other aspects of the Liberalelectoral platform will depend on developing a strong relationship with the provinces and territories.

The 54-year-old physician says she also plans to attend a health ministers meeting scheduled for January.

In the coming months, the Liberals said they will try to usher in a new era of federal-provincial relations, especially on the health file.

The Liberals campaigned on apromise to negotiate a new accordwith long-term funding after the Conservatives announced they would not renew the plan when it expired in 2014.

Philpott also faces other big legislative issues in her portfolio including helping with the government's response to the Supreme Court's decision on doctor-assisted death and following through on the Liberal pledge to legalize marijuana.