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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-04-29 Sitting 113 Showing 1–4 of 4

A debate where an NDP member tried to hold the government accountable for promises related to public healthcare. The Liberal member responded with vague talking points about working to improve health outcomes, but didn't directly address the issues raised. The debate was collegial but lacked substance and clear answers from the government representative.

Official Hansard ↗

Gord Johns

NDP 6:45 p.m.

“I'm frustrated that the government isn't moving faster on pharmacare. I will keep bringing this up until they take action. Only some provinces have access right now. That's not fair to the others. The government should negotiate with all the provinces so everyone can have pharmacare. People are struggling to afford their medicine. The government promised pharmacare in the last election. They need to follow through on that promise.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, just like last week, and just like the week before, I am here tonight to drag the government in here to hold it to account and to ensure that it protects and enhances our public health care system and follows through with its promises. I will just serve notice that I will be dragging the government back in here again next week if it does not take some action. No one in Canada, not our kids, parents or grandparents, should have to worry about the cost of medication they need to stay healthy, but that is exactly what is happening today. Canadians were promised the beginning of a national pharmacare program. We actually voted on it. They were promised a single-payer system that serves people, not a patchwork system that leaves millions behind. The promise was that we were going to start with universal free access to diabetes medicine and birth control. It was highly celebrated by the Liberals. Right now, only three provinces and one territory are covered. That is about 17% of Canadians. More than four out of five Canadians cannot access the federal pharmacare plan today. This means access to life-saving diabetes medicine or birth control coverage depends on where someone lives. It depends on their postal code. While I hate to do this, I must mention that this inaction comes while many Liberal MPs are bragging about a national pharmacare program that their own constituents cannot even access. In Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, the provincial health minister said that the federal Liberal government has closed the door on negotiations. Meanwhile, the Liberal MP for Labrador defends pharmacare as putting money back in Canadians' pockets. On Prince Edward Island, the federal government has moved slowly, and its provincial health minister says that the federal government has told them that pharmacare funds will expire in 2029 and will not be renewed. Meanwhile, the member for Cardigan claimed that pharmacare is a key program for all Canadians. Nova Scotia is ready to negotiate, but it is still waiting for an invitation. Meanwhile, the member for Cumberland—Colchester described pharmacare as an essential service that Liberals will continue to protect. Their premier says he cannot even get a meeting to negotiate a deal. These provinces want in. They are ready to work, but they are being shut out while these Liberals pat themselves on the back. That is not nation building. The Prime Minister was just on CBC two days ago touting his commitment to pharmacare. Even today in question period, he rightly criticised the Conservatives for voting against pharmacare, but only three provinces and one territory actually have an agreement. Yesterday we saw that, in the spring economic update, the word pharmacare is mentioned only once. It signals that the Liberals are walking away from their commitment to the national pharmacare plan they ran on during the last election. This has real consequences. People are skipping prescriptions. They are cutting pills in half. They are choosing between paying rent and filling a prescription. In a country as wealthy as Canada, this should never happen. This is not what Canadians were promised, like I said in the last election. New Democrats in the House and across Canada are fighting to ensure Canadians can access the medicine they need while the Liberals continue to delay and side with powerful industry interests. In B.C., pharmacare coverage began on March 1 because the B.C. NDP government pushed for it and the provincial health minister Josie Osborne acted quickly. She signed a deal. Families in B.C. are getting that relief, but families in the rest of the country are still waiting. They are waiting because the federal government is refusing to negotiate. A truly national pharmacare program would guarantee the security Canadians need at a time of economic uncertainty. If the Liberals fail to meet their commitment, they are going to have to explain to Canadians why they are breaking yet another promise. The question is simple: Will the government reopen negotiations with provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia? Will it commit to expanding pharmacare to every province and territory that wants in, or will it continue down this path where access depends on one's postal code or where one lives? Canadians deserve better than this patchwork.

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Maggie Chi

Liberal 6:50 p.m.

“You're right, we should help Canadians afford medicine. Our government has made some progress on pharmacare in some provinces. But we can't rush into this. There are a lot of factors to consider. We need to talk to the provinces and think about the global context. We'll keep working on it. I want Canadians to be healthy.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my friend the member for Courtenay—Alberni has long been a strong advocate for better health outcomes in his community and across Canada, and I am honoured and fortunate to work with him in the House for the betterment of Canadian health outcomes. Those outcomes are possible thanks to our investments in health care, just as yesterday's spring economic statement was our government's next step in our plan to build a stronger, more independent and resilient Canada. We know that we are only stronger and more resilient if we have healthy Canadians, which is something I think everybody here agrees on. That is why our government came to office with the pledge to protect existing pharmacare agreements. We know the role that they play in keeping Canadians healthy. In fact, starting last month, my colleague's constituents in British Columbia are seeing the effects of their province's pharmacare agreements first-hand, since it came into effect on March 1. Thanks to this agreement, more Canadians have free and low-cost access to a range of contraceptives; Canadians living with diabetes can get essential, life-saving drugs for their condition; and Canadians are keeping more money in their pockets while improving their health outcomes. I know the member opposite would like us to go full speed ahead, but recent years have taught us that we need to be mindful of the broader context, both within Canada and beyond our borders, as we make decisions and as we consider the changing fiscal environment, how policy decisions in other countries impact our pharmaceutical supply and what we hear from our provincial and territorial partners. All of these things matter. For our part, our government will continue to control what we can. That means working closely with our health partners, including provinces, territories and indigenous people, to see how we can help them deliver health care for all Canadians. As we have always said, we cannot build Canada strong without healthy Canadians.

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Gord Johns

NDP 6:50 p.m.

“I don't like what you said. I want the government to hurry up and give all Canadians pharmacare now. It saves money and people need it. Don't make excuses. Just do it.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for coming. I know it is inconvenient, but I will continue to drag her and her government here to debate this issue, because what we heard does not match the reality that Canadians are facing. It is great to hear that British Columbians are getting access to pharmacare. The government says pharmacare is moving ahead, but only four out of five Canadians are accessing it. That is not progress; that is exclusion. The Liberals say it takes time, but provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia are ready now, and the federal government is refusing to negotiate. We just heard the parliamentary secretary say it is too expensive, but pharmacare actually saves money for families and for provinces. The real cost is forcing Canadians to go without the medicine they need. Let us be clear. Mentioning pharmacare once in a major economic update is not a plan. It is a signal that the government is walking away from its promise, and it is not nation building. Canadians were told that this would be a national program, not a patchwork or something determined by postal code. No one in this country should have to choose between paying rent and filling a prescription. The question remains. When will the government stop delaying, start negotiating and deliver pharmacare for all Canadians?

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Maggie Chi

Liberal 6:50 p.m.

“I'm happy to talk about this. We're giving Canadians pharmacare. We're doing it the right way. We won't rush it. We're working with everyone to make healthcare better.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear that it is never an inconvenience but always an honour to come to the House and debate important issues. I am never dragged here, because it is also my honour to debate important issues and work on behalf of all Canadians for the betterment of their health with the member opposite. Our government remains committed to building Canada strong by investing in healthy Canadians. That means protecting pharmacare agreements that provide access to contraception and vital medications while also keeping more money in the pockets of Canadians. We will continue to work with our partners on all sides, including the member opposite, to build a health care system that meets the needs of Canadians.

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