New pharmacare framework bill includes plan to cover diabetes medications, contraceptives
The federal government has presented a much-anticipated piece of legislation, broadly laying out the Liberals' plans to implement a national pharmacare framework, satisfying a core commitment to the NDP.
Presented in the House of Commons on Thursday morning by Health Minister Mark Holland — one day ahead of the March 1 deadline agreed to by both parties—the six-page bill outlines the "foundational principles" of a national universal drug coverage plan, but does not directly implement one.
"This is fundamentally an important day for Canada. It is one for which I am so deeply proud," Holland said, at the announcement held at a community health centre minutes away from Parliament Hill alongside NDP MP and lead negotiator for his party on the file, Don Davies.
"There will be a debate about who gets credit here today… This debate entirely misses the point," Holland said. "Today is a giant step forward for our health system. It was made possible by two adversaries asking what we have in common, rather than what separates us… I hope that it represents the politics of our future, it certainly made the history of today."
As the NDP confirmed ahead of the bill being tabled, the legislation includes a commitment to first launch diabetes medication and birth control coverage for Canadians, through a single-payer system, contingent on provincial and territorial agreement. This first phase is being seen as an opportunity to evaluate "the effectiveness" of the model, as Holland put it.
"If the minister enters in a bilateral agreement with a willing province or territory, the minister may provide funding… to increase any existing pharmacare coverage, allowing the province or territory to provide universal, single-payer, first dollar coverage," for these two kinds of medications, according to the government's briefing material.
Specifically, the government says it will be establishing a fund to improve access to supplies that Canada's 3.7 million diabetics requite to manage, monitor, and administer their medication in addition to improving the access to diabetes medications, including insulin.
As for contraceptives, the government will be working on cross-Canada deals to provide access to a suite of options for the more than 9 million people of reproductive age, including oral contraceptives, copper and hormonal IUDs, injections, implants, rings, and morning-after pills.
"Everyone in our country will get free diabetes medication. To women who have seen, south of the border, direct attacks on women's rights… We can say very clearly now that in our country, everyone will have access to free birth control because of New Democrats," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday. "This is historic. This is the dream of our party since the conception of our party."
What does the pharmacare bill say?
In paving the way for a full-fledged pharmacare program, Bill C-64, "An Act Respecting Pharmacare," indicates the Liberals' "commitment to consulting widely about the way forward," and intent to establish a committee of experts to make recommendations "on the operation and financing," within 30 days of the bill becoming law.
The committee would then have an entire year from the bill's passage to provide a report to the health minister with its recommendations.
The legislation also includes a series of underlining guiding factors for a future pharmacare program, including improving the accessibility, affordability and appropriate use of pharmaceutical products, as well as providing "universal coverage… across Canada."
It also provides for the Canadian Drug Agency announced in late 2023 to work on developing a national formulary and bulk purchasing strategy. Should the bill pass, this agency would have to also provide a list of essential prescription drugs within a year.
The legislation comes as recent survey data indicated some Canadians are resorting to cost-cutting means to save on critical prescriptions. Nearly one in four Canadians have reported splitting pills, skipping doses or deciding not to renew or fill their prescriptions due to high costs, according to a recent poll.
A core Liberal-NDP pledge
Reaching the deal by the already-extended March 1 deadline came down to the wire, with Singh threatening for weeks to pull out of the deal if the Liberals didn't come through.
Setting up a framework for a national drug plan was one of the core planks of the two-party agreement meant to provide the minority Liberal government parliamentary stability until June 2025, in exchange for progress on progressive policies.
After saying he put Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "on notice," late last week, Singh broke the news that the two sides had come to an agreement on "historic" draft legislation that specifically refers to single-payer delivery, a key demand of the New Democrats.
Funding questions remain
A key sticking point through the talks has been the Liberals' fiscal prudence preoccupation, with Holland previously indicating the government "can't afford this to be a massively expensive program." The Parliamentary Budget Officer has estimated a full universal national pharmacare program would cost billions, annually.
Over the weekend, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland indicated the new drug coverage approach won't impede on her plans to keep the federal deficit below one per cent of gross domestic product, according to The Canadian Press.
And, while no specific funding has been committed yet, the legislation includes a vow that if the federal government inks a deal with a province or territory, the feds would maintain "long-term funding … beginning with those for rare diseases."
Asked by reporters, Holland would not provide a clear cost estimate. He said he had a "quantum" range in his head that could be on either side of $1.5 billion.
"We're hopeful to sign agreements this year. And so, the point that I'm making is there will be some expenditure this year I hope, if we can get to agreements and we can see people getting access to drugs in this fiscal year," Holland said, noting the legislation needs to still make its way through the Parliament first.
"So that's going to take some period of time. And obviously, not all the provinces are going to come online at once, so that's very hard to forecast."
Political, provincial buy-in?
At a town hall during last month's Edmonton caucus retreat, Singh and his MPs heard pleas to pin down the—as Singh characterized them—at-times "slippery" Liberals on pharmacare.
Davies told reporters at the January retreat that there has been some back-and-forth on some "creative" and "bold" proposals to see an agreeable version of the legislation materialize, after the initial draft was rejected by Singh as offering "insufficient" coverage for Canadians.
"Today, we lay the foundations of public pharmacare in Canada," Davies told reporters on Parliament Hill Thursday. "It's the result of decades of hard work by New Democrats and progressive Canadians, and allied organizations for years, who believe that every Canadian should get access to the prescription medication they need to stay healthy with their health card, not their credit card."
While the agreement originally required the federal government to pass a "Canada Pharmacare Act" by the end of 2023, the Liberals and New Democrats agreed to an extension, after being unable to even table a bill by that deadline.
The bill comes just as both Quebec and Alberta have said they want to opt out of the new federal offering, which could have knock-on effects for the federal government's bulk purchasing power. Others, such as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, say they want to hear the details of the plan before saying whether they're in favour.
While signalling a need to still sort out the logistics and details, both Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and British Columbia Premier David Eby welcomed the legislation on Thursday.
Asked repeatedly by reporters on Thursday whether a potential future Conservative government would dismantle pharmacare, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre did not answer.
With files from CTV News' Spencer Van Dyk and Annie Bergeron-Oliver
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lindholm scores the winner for Canucks in OT
Just over a minute into overtime, Elias Lindholm scored, bringing the Vancouver Canucks to victory over the Nashville Predators in Game 4.
CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
All London Drugs stores closed across Western Canada due to system issue
All 79 locations of pharmacy and retail chain London Drugs are shut down Sunday, and there is no estimate on when they will be back open.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Australian prime minister describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after protests
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women.
Casey DeSmith won’t start Game 4 for the Canucks
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.
Tornadoes kill 4 in Oklahoma, leaving trail of destruction and thousands without power
Tornadoes killed four people in Oklahoma and left thousands without power Sunday after a destructive outbreak of severe weather flattened buildings in the heart of one rural town and injured at least 100 people across the state.
Local Spotlight
Haida Elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
DonAir force takes over at Oilers playoff games
As if a 4-0 Edmonton Oilers lead in Game 1 of their playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings wasn't good enough, what was announced at Rogers Place during the next TV timeout nearly blew the roof off the downtown arena.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan skips haircuts for 10 years waiting for Stanley Cup win
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.