OTTAWA - The federal New Democrats are hitting the road to talk about medicare, accusing the Harper government of short-changing the system.

The year-long consultation process was announced Thursday as talks among Canada’s health ministers got underway in Halifax.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq quickly pounced on the announcement, criticizing the NDP for failing to present a medicare action plan, and maintaining that the Tories have improved the health system.

"For all the complaining that the NDP do, they don't have any new ideas for health care," Aglukkaq said in an email to The Canadian Press.

"Their 'plan' is to talk about health care for three years. Canadians need more than talk: they need action."

New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair said the party will ask Canadians what they believe government must do to ensure the health care system is sustainable for future generations.

"Canadians are concerned about our health care system and they want it to be a priority for their government too," Mulcair said in launching the campaign.

Mulcair accused the Conservatives of harming medicare by cutting billions of dollars from health transfers to the provinces and territories.

"Unfortunately, the Conservatives are just making things worse by unilaterally cutting $36 billion in provincial and territorial health transfers without consulting them.”

The New Democrats said their consultations will focus on four priorities: prescription drug access, long-term and home care services, the role of health workers and helping Canadians live healthier lives.

The consultations will help build the NDP's health proposals for their 2015 election campaign, added NDP health critic Libby Davies.

Aglukkaq was in Halifax, where she announced funding to fight childhood obesity.

Canada’s health ministers are meeting in the Nova Scotia capital this week, where a key topic is rising drug prices. The provinces and territories are hoping to pool their buying power to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

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  • Little-Known Mulcair Facts

    Here are some facts you may not have known about NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. (CP)

  • 10. He Used To Be A Liberal

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mulcair" target="_hplink">Mulcair was Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks</a> in Jean Charest's Liberal government in Quebec. He served in the role from 2003-2006. (CP)

  • 8. He's French (Kind Of)

    Mulcair married Catherine Pinhas in 1976. She was born in France to a Turkish family of Sephardic Jewish descent. <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1158289--thomas-mulcair-s-wife-catherine-a-psychologist-and-political-confidante?bn=1" target="_hplink">Mulcair has French citizenship through his marriage</a>, as do the couple's two sons. (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)

  • 7. They Used To Be Friends

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mulcair" target="_hplink">Mulcair left Charest's Liberal government in Quebec </a>after he was offered the position of Minister of Government Services in 2006, an apparent demotion from Minister of the Environment. Mulcair has said his ouster was related to his opposition to a government plan to transfer land in the Mont Orford provincial park to condo developers. (CP)

  • 6. Ancestor Was Premier Of Quebec

    Mulcair's great-great-grandfather on his mother's side was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_Mercier" target="_hplink">Honoré Mercier, the ninth premier of Quebec</a>. (Public Domain/Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec)

  • 5. First!

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mulcair" target="_hplink">Mulcair was the first New Democrat to win a riding in Quebec during a federal election</a>. He held the riding of Outremont during the 2008 election after first winning the seat in a 2007 by-election. Phil Edmonston was the first New Democrat to win a seat in Quebec, but his win came in a 1990 by-election. Robert Toupin was the very first to bring a Quebec seat to the NDP, but he did it in 1986 by crossing the floor. (Alamy)

  • 4. He's Half Irish.

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mulcair" target="_hplink">Mulcair's father Harry Donnelly Mulcair was Irish-Canadian</a> and his mother Jeanne French-Canadian. His father spoke to him in English and his mother in French -- explaining his fluency in both official languages. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

  • 3. He Votes In France

    Muclair has voted in past French elections, but says that now that he is leader of the Official Opposition <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1157191" target="_hplink">he will not take part in the upcoming French presidential vote</a>. (Thinkstock)

  • 2. Young Love At First Sight

    <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1158289--thomas-mulcair-s-wife-catherine-a-psychologist-and-political-confidante?bn=1" target="_hplink">Mulcair met his future wife at a wedding when they were both teenagers</a>. Catherine was visiting from France. They married two years later when they were both 21. (CP)

  • 1. Mr. Angry

    <a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/03/16/thomas-mulcair-is-mr-angry/" target="_hplink">Mulcair was given the moniker in a Maclean's headline</a>, but the new leader of the NDP has long been known for his short fuse. In 2005, he was fined $95,000 for defamatory comments he made about former PQ minister Yves Duhaime on TV. The comments included French vulgarity and an accusation that alleged influence peddling would land Duhaime in prison.