Earlier this week, a local constituent asked me, 鈥淚s it true the federal government is now backing away from pharmacare?鈥�
As a Member of Parliament, I regularly receive questions from citizens on a wide range of topics. However, this particular question was one I hadn鈥檛 encountered before.
As is often the case, research is required鈥攅specially given the vast scope of the federal government and the reality that many policy decisions, particularly those that may be controversial or unpopular, aren鈥檛 always announced through official press releases.
So, let鈥檚 return to the question: 鈥淚s it true the federal government is now backing away from pharmacare?鈥�
This wasn鈥檛 a coffee shop rumour. It was reported in a national media outlet under the headline: 鈥淗ealth advocates shocked as Carney Liberals back away from pharmacare program.鈥�
To answer this properly, some background is necessary. The previous Liberal government, with strong support from the NDP, passed Bill C-64, titled 鈥淎n Act respecting Pharmacare.鈥�
The opening summary of Bill C-64 states: 鈥淭his enactment sets out the principles that the Minister of Health is to consider when working towards the implementation of national universal pharmacare鈥︹��
This was a key clarification: the bill did not establish a national pharmacare plan, contrary to what some media outlets mistakenly reported at the time鈥攁nd continue to suggest.
Instead, Bill C-64 states: 鈥淭he Minister may, if the Minister has entered into an agreement with a province or territory to do so, make payments to the province or territory in order to increase any existing public pharmacare coverage鈥︹��
This clause is significant. It explicitly allows the federal government to provide funding to provinces to enhance their existing pharmacare programs鈥攎ost of which, including B.C.鈥檚, are already in place.
Following the passage of Bill C-64, that鈥檚 exactly what happened. The former federal government signed agreements with B.C., P.E.I., Yukon, and Manitoba to cover certain medications for a four-year period. These agreements focused on expanding access to contraceptives and diabetes medications, with $1.5 billion allocated over five years.
It鈥檚 worth noting that any federal government can enter into financial agreements with provinces at any time, provided Parliament approves the spending. I made this point during debate: Bill C-64 was not strictly required for such agreements.
So, what has changed to prompt headlines like 鈥淗ealth advocates shocked as Carney Liberals back away from pharmacare program鈥�? Formally, nothing has changed.
The concern seems to stem from the fact that the current federal Liberal government has not signed similar agreements with the remaining provinces and territories鈥攁nd when asked, has not committed to doing so. They have not formally stated they are abandoning the legislation. The new Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to protect existing deals but has cited budget constraints and shifting priorities as reasons for not expanding them.
Health advocacy groups such as the Canadian Health Coalition and Diabetes Canada have publicly expressed concern over the lack of progress and transparency in implementing the next phase of pharmacare.
In my view, a more accurate headline would be: 鈥淟ack of progress on pharmacare deals raises concerns.鈥�
It also raises the issue of regional fairness and those Canadians who believe a national program should not depend on where you live as to whether you get the benefit of it. For those who live with the costs of diabetes and are not in these provinces may question and see this as a broken promise by the Carney Liberals who campaigned on National Pharmacare.
I chose to address this topic in this week鈥檚 report to provide context for those who may have heard about these concerns and have questions. It鈥檚 also a reminder that your local MLAs and MPs are here to help clarify government policies and decisions鈥攁nd to provide accurate information.
My question this week: Are you concerned about these developments on the so-called National Pharmacare program?
You can reach me at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll-free at 1-800-665-8711.
