The prime minister’s written back to premiers saying he will not commit to sit down with them before mid-December to discuss a new health accord.

The provincial and territorial leaders fired off a letter to Justin Trudeau last month, asking for a face-to-face, and wanting a commitment before a planned first ministers’ meeting on climate takes place in November.

But in his reply sent last week, and just made public, the prime minister says he’s sending Health Minister Jane Philpott to meet with her provincial, territorial counterparts as planned October 18th and see what happens.

Trudeau writes he looks forward to learning about progress being made and to working with the premiers to determine the next steps.