Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

NDP expect phased in approach to pharmacare

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Mar, 2022 09:46 AM
  • NDP expect phased in approach to pharmacare

TTAWA - NDP health critic Don Davies says he expects the Liberal government to make good its renewed promise to deliver national pharmacare, but perhaps not all at once.

The Liberals have promised in their new confidence and supply agreement with the NDP that they will pass a Canada Pharmacare Act by the end of next year.

They have also agreed to task the National Drug Agency with the development of a national formulary of essential medicines and bulk purchasing plan by the time the deal ends in 2025.

In exchange for movement on pharmacare and a host of other NDP priorities, the opposition party has agreed to support the minority Liberal government through confidence votes, which means they would remain in power for three more years.

Liberals made pharmacare a core part of their 2019 election platform, but by the 2021 campaign they gave it barely a mention. Pharmacare was also missing from the last throne speech.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos would not comment on how he plans to approach the promised legislation, but says he looks forward to collaborating with the NDP.

Davies says he doesn't necessarily expect to see a universal, national program tabled as part of the legislation, but rather see it built up over many years.

MORE National ARTICLES

Poll suggests wide worries about inflation

Poll suggests wide worries about inflation
Four-fifths of respondents to the Leger poll had started or planned to buy cheaper items at the grocery store to save on food bills, and cut back on how much food they throw out to stretch every dollar.

Poll suggests wide worries about inflation

Hate crimes up 37 per cent in 2020: StatCan

Hate crimes up 37 per cent in 2020: StatCan
New data from Statistics Canada show the number of hate crimes reported to police across the country went up 37 per cent in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year. The agency says 2,669 hate crimes were reported in 2020 — the highest number since comparable data became available in 2009.

Hate crimes up 37 per cent in 2020: StatCan

NACI favours Pfizer over Moderna vaccine for kids

NACI favours Pfizer over Moderna vaccine for kids
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released new guidelines that favour giving kids a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine over the newly approved Moderna version. Health Canada approved Moderna's pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages six to 11 on Thursday.

NACI favours Pfizer over Moderna vaccine for kids

Bump in COVID-19 cases expected, says Tam

Bump in COVID-19 cases expected, says Tam
In Canada, the daily average number of people in hospital with COVID-19 declined by 11 per cent since last week, and the number of people in intensive care declined by 14 per cent.

Bump in COVID-19 cases expected, says Tam

Charest says Tories must pick 'adult in the room'

Charest says Tories must pick 'adult in the room'
Federal Conservatives and their supporters have long been calling for the removal of vaccine mandates for domestic air travellers, public servants and those working in federally regulated industries.

Charest says Tories must pick 'adult in the room'

Convoy cost Ottawa $36.3M, memo says

Convoy cost Ottawa $36.3M, memo says
A memo to councillors released by the city says almost all of the $36.3-million bill is linked to policing the protest that clogged city streets by Parliament Hill in the downtown core.    

Convoy cost Ottawa $36.3M, memo says