Category: pharmacare

NDP Attempts to Prod Liberals Into Action on Pharmacare by Tabling Its Own Bill

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party has tabled its own pharmacare legislation in the House of Commons, showing the New Democrats are no longer content to wait for the Liberals to make good on their promise. The NDP and Liberals struck a confidence-and-supply agreement last year that would see the NDP support the government…


‘Hard Reality’ Getting Pharma Companies to Lower Drug Prices: Federal Memo

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos was told of the “hard reality” of getting pharmaceutical companies to lower their drug prices before he urged an independent federal agency to pause the discussion in favour of more consultation, a 2021 memo shows. “After five years, myriad policy proposals and many hundreds of hours of consultation, it would appear…


Pharma Companies ‘Not Amenable’ to Lowering Drug Prices: Federal Memo

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos was told of the “hard reality” of getting pharmaceutical companies to lower their drug prices before he urged an independent federal agency to pause the discussion in favour of more consultation, a 2021 memo shows. “After five years, myriad policy proposals and many hundreds of hours of consultation, it would appear…


Clock Ticks on Liberal-NDP Deal as Budget Omits Pharmacare Bill Promised in 2023

One of the Liberals’ outstanding promises for 2023 in their deal with the NDP was conspicuously absent from the federal budget. The confidence-and-supply agreement requires the government to table legislation on pharmacare by the end of the calendar year in exchange for the NDP’s support on key votes in the House of Commons. Both parties…


Singh Says He Expects 2023 Budget Will Include Money for Dental Care

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party is using its agreement with the Liberals as leverage to push for its priorities in the upcoming federal budget, set to be released on March 28. Singh said he expects the upcoming budget will have money to expand dental care coverage to teens, seniors, and people living…


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and His Cabinet Begin Three-Day Retreat in Hamilton

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers are gathering at a Hamilton hotel today to begin a three-day cabinet retreat. The strategy session comes during what Trudeau said are “tough times,” with a potential recession on the horizon and Canadians feeling the strain of high inflation. Trudeau is fresh off a week of cross-country travel…


NDP to Call Off Alliance With Liberals If No Pharmarcare Bill This Year: Jagmeet Singh

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will consider calling off the alliance with the Liberals if the government doesn’t introduce and pass a bill for a universal national pharmacare program in Parliament this year. “We want to see a national framework presented in Parliament, and passed in Parliament before the end of the year,” Singh said on…


NDP Will Call Off Alliance With Liberals If No Pharmarcare Bill This Year, Singh Says

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will consider calling off the alliance with the Liberals if the government doesn’t introduce and pass a bill for a universal national pharmacare program this year. “We want to see a national framework presented in Parliament, and passed in Parliament before the end of the year,” Singh said on Jan. 19,…


Support for National Daycare, Pharmacare, and Dental Care Drops When Attached to Tax Increase, Poll Finds

Support for national daycare, pharmacare, and dental care plummets to well below half of Canadians when they are to be paid for through an increase in taxes, particularly the goods and services tax (GST), a new poll finds. All three programs were included or committed to in the 2022 federal budget released by Finance Minister Chrystia…