Ottawa hasn’t approached Alberta, Sask., about pharmacare since election: ministers

Minister of Health Marjorie Michel rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Alberta and Saskatchewan’s health ministers say they haven’t been approached by Ottawa about signing onto the federal pharmacare program since the spring election.

Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill says he hasn’t discussed his province’s involvement in the program since former federal minister Mark Holland was in office.

Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of primary and preventative health services, says she too hasn’t received any indication from Ottawa that it’s still looking to sign more deals.

They were speaking at the end of a meeting of provincial health ministers from across the country in Calgary, ahead of another meeting Friday with federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel.

LaGrange says she expects pharmacare to come up in Friday’s discussion “as an aside.”

Three provinces and one territory have so far have signed onto the program, which sees Ottawa fund coverage for contraceptives and diabetes medication.

Michel’s office says the federal government is monitoring the existing pharmacare deals and is committed to honouring them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2025.

— By Jack Farrell in Edmonton