On Wednesday (Feb. 24), Liberals and Conservatives voted against an NDP bill that lays out the path to establishing a universal, single-payer, comprehensive and public pharmacare plan. With one in five Canadians unable to afford medication their doctors prescribe and COVID-19 exposing the gaps in healthcare, a national, universal, public pharmacare program is needed now more than ever.
“Canadian families are struggling to pay for their prescription drugs, and today the Liberals and Conservatives made it clear they’re not going to step in to help,” North Island—Powell River MP Rachel Blaney said in a news release. “The Liberals have been talking about a pharmacare program for over 20 years but, when it comes time to actually take action and make the lives of Canadians better, they won’t do it. New Democrats will keep fighting to get Canadians the help they need.”
By opposing a bill that would pave the way for Canadian Pharmacare, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals broke their promise to voters, and abandoned their commitment to helping those in financial and medical need, the release added. Conservative MPs also voted against the proposal to get Canadians affordable prescription drugs.
“We introduced this bill to make people’s lives better and more affordable. Prescription drugs are not a luxury item people can choose to do without. They are completely essential,” Courtenay—Alberni MP Gord Johns said. “It’s just not good enough for the Liberals and Conservatives to claim they want to help make life more affordable for Canadians and then vote against common sense policies that help people in this country. We’re not going to stop here; New Democrats will keep pushing for pharmacare for all Canadians.”
