Canada’s pharmacare bill has officially been introduced in Parliament
The long-awaited pharmacare legislation is expected to be introduced Thursday, and the NDP says it contains a framework for a single-payer national program.
Canada
Feb 29
Feds want pharmacare deal by end of year but Ontario health minister has ‘a lot more’ questions
The federal minister of health said he wants to see people accessing national pharmacare by the end of the year. His Ontario counterpart, however, said she has many questions.
Health
Mar 4
Pharmacare legislation is a step closer to introduction
Health Minister Mark Holland has put legislation for pharmacare on the House of Commons notice paper, clearing one of the final steps before introducing the bill.
Canada
Feb 28
Ontario not ‘writing off anything’ in national pharmcare talks
Health Minister Sylvia Jones said she needs to hear more details of the federal pharmacare plan before she will decide if it is right for Ontario.
Health
Feb 29
National pharmacare deal ‘promising’ for Manitobans, advocate says
'Currently in Manitoba, if you don't have coverage, you have to pay a deductible to get access to me to the pharmacare plan. For some people, that's a barrier.'
Health
Feb 26
Talking about opting out of pharmacare is ‘premature,’ health minister says
'For provinces to say whether or not they’re going to participate in something ... is a little premature,' Health Minister Mark Holland said.
Canada
Feb 27
Calgary, Edmonton chambers of commerce urge province to explore federal pharmacare
The chambers of commerce said a well-developed national pharmacare program could benefit Alberta’s economy in light of the ongoing labour shortages.
Canada
Feb 27
Alberta intends to opt out of national pharmacare plan
Alberta intends to opt out of the proposed national pharmacare plan.
Canada
Feb 25
B.C. diabetics hoping for ‘life-changing’ coverage in new pharmacare bill
Pharmacare legislation flowing from a deal between the federal Liberals and NDP is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons as early as Thursday or Friday.
Health
Feb 28
NDP’s Singh questions provinces mulling pharmacare opt-out
Singh's comments came one day after Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange wrote in an email to Global News that the province would seek to opt-out of a national pharmacare plan.
Canada
Feb 26
NDP says it has a pharmacare deal with Liberals. Here’s what it will cover
The deal is a critical piece of the supply-and-confidence pact between the two parties and comes ahead of a March 1 deadline to introduce legislation.
Health
Feb 23
NDP close to presenting ‘final offer’ on pharmacare: Singh
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he is close to giving the Liberals a final offer on pharmacare, which would include a push for universal coverage of contraception.
Canada
Feb 16
Singh mulls ‘consequences’ if pharmacare deadline isn’t met
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is again saying he could pull support for the federal government if a deal is not reached on universal pharmacare in less than a month.
Canada
Feb 13
Pharmacare deal would cover birth control, diabetes meds: sources
The Liberals and NDP have agreed to cover birth control through a single-payer program as part of the pharmacare deal and are also in talks to include diabetes drugs.
Canada
Feb 14
Pharmacare deal can’t be ‘massively expensive,’ minister says as clock ticks
The health minister says he's confident that pharmacare legislation will meet the March 1 deadline with the NDP, but he says it cannot be a 'massively expensive program.'
Canada
Feb 6
Budget 2024: Liberals look to offset drug plan cost with higher smoking, vaping taxes
The increased cash flow coincides with the launch of a new $1.5-billion drug plan to offer universal coverage for contraceptive and diabetes medications.
Health
Apr 16
Capital gains changes are ‘really fair,’ Freeland says, as doctors cry foul
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Canada
Apr 23
N.S. sexual health clinic can no longer give free birth control to patients in need
A Halifax sexual health clinic that has been making birth control devices available for free to patients who can’t afford them has to stop after running out of donations.
Health
Mar 11
NDP’s Singh compares Liberals to wrestling with ‘slimy’ eels in pharmacare talks
Singh says pharmacare legislation will be the NDP's next big fight in Parliament, as his caucus meets for a three-day retreat in Edmonton this week.
Canada
Jan 25
Federal budget 2024: What lies ahead for Canada’s health-care system?
With the unveiling of the 2024 federal budget Tuesday, Canadians may be anxiously awaiting insights into the plans for tackling the strains on the health-care system.
Health
Apr 14