Reports out of Ottawa suggest the $2 billion provinces are expecting in new health care money might not come afterall.

If the money doesn't come, it would seriously jeopardize promises being made by parties in the provincial election.

Pat Binns

In depth: Prince Edward Island Votes 2003

The federal government is saying money it is spending on SARS relief for Ontario, money for western beef farmers, and compensation for the B.C. fires could mean it will not have the $2 billion it promised the provincial governments for improvement to health care in the country.

Most of the money the Liberals and Tories say they'll spend on improving the health-care system is tied to that money. Premier Pat Binns says Ottawa has a responsibility to keep its promise.

Robert Ghiz

"You know, the Prime Minister gave us an undertaking that before he left office he'd find that $2 billion," says Binns. "If that money is not there then we've got a serious problem in this country in terms of credibility with the federal government. And, I'll tell ya, the premiers will be very upset if that's the case."

Binns says he is not reconsidering his plans to hire new doctors and nurses if he is elected.

"We have people coming," says Binns. "Additional doctors, additional nurses. We have a plan to get them, and no, it's not going to stop. But if we're going to do the kinds of things that Romanow talked about, in terms of a better health-care system, then we need that money."

Liberal Leader Robert Ghiz says his party never counted on the federal money when budgeting its health care promises.

"That's why we talked somewhere between $100 million and $130 million depending on what happens," says Ghiz. "We'll just have to wait and see. There's still a chance that we could get the extra dollars."

The federal government has set a deadline of January to announce exactly how much extra money will be passed onto the provinces.