pharmacare plan

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh speaks before caucus, in Ottawa, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. One of the last outstanding items within the NDP-Liberal deal for this year is getting a pharmacare bill tabled in the House of Commons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Clock ticks on Liberal-NDP deal as budget omits pharmacare bill promised in 2023

Both parties say agreed-upon program is still on track to happen

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh speaks before caucus, in Ottawa, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. One of the last outstanding items within the NDP-Liberal deal for this year is getting a pharmacare bill tabled in the House of Commons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Federal NDP-Liberal agreement prompted increased lobbying efforts from Big Pharma

Lobbying communications up three fold from 2019

  • Feb 16, 2023
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh listens to a question during an availability on Parliament Hill, Thursday, January 19, 2023 in Ottawa. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says it will be a deal-breaker if the Liberal government doesn’t introduce a pharmacare bill in Parliament this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

No pharmacare bill this year would be a deal-breaker, says NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

Liberal government says it remains committed to creation of a national pharmacare program

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh listens to a question during an availability on Parliament Hill, Thursday, January 19, 2023 in Ottawa. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says it will be a deal-breaker if the Liberal government doesn’t introduce a pharmacare bill in Parliament this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
At a three-day retreat in Ottawa this week, New Democrat members of Parliament are expected to focus discussions on getting more wins out of their confidence-and-supply agreement with the federal Liberals. NDP MP Jenny Kwan speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, May 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

As NDP gathers to talk strategy, MPs vow to keep Liberals at their word on pharmacare

‘We’ll absolutely be watching very carefully to see where the government is at’

At a three-day retreat in Ottawa this week, New Democrat members of Parliament are expected to focus discussions on getting more wins out of their confidence-and-supply agreement with the federal Liberals. NDP MP Jenny Kwan speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, May 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(Black Press Media Creative)

B.C. pharmacists welcome new prescription powers, but eye administrative burden

Starting Oct. 14, B.C. pharmacists will be able to administer more vaccines and renew prescriptions

(Black Press Media Creative)
A one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills is displayed in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 26, 2016. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the government should launch pharmacare with free access to birth control, including the morning after pill. Reproductive health has been in the spotlight since a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion revealed federal abortion rights could be rescinded in that country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rich Pedroncelli

Launch national pharmacare with free birth control, NDP pitches

Reproductive health has been in the spotlight since a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion was leaked

A one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills is displayed in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 26, 2016. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the government should launch pharmacare with free access to birth control, including the morning after pill. Reproductive health has been in the spotlight since a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion revealed federal abortion rights could be rescinded in that country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rich Pedroncelli
A pharmacy worker counts pills for a prescription, March 11, 2021. B.C. announced expanded medication coverage on May 3, 2022, including for treating Crohn’s disease and migraines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

B.C. expands PharmaCare coverage for Crohn’s, MS, heart failure, birth control

More medications partially or fully covered as of mid-April

A pharmacy worker counts pills for a prescription, March 11, 2021. B.C. announced expanded medication coverage on May 3, 2022, including for treating Crohn’s disease and migraines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
NDP MP Don Davies speaks during a news conference on blood plasma clinics in Ottawa, Tuesday, November 15, 2016. NDP health critic Don Davies says he expects the Liberals to make good its promise to deliver national pharmacare, but perhaps not all at once. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

NDP expects phased-in approach to national pharmacare promise in deal with Liberals

Liberals have promised the NDP to pass a Canada Pharmacare Act by the end of next year

NDP MP Don Davies speaks during a news conference on blood plasma clinics in Ottawa, Tuesday, November 15, 2016. NDP health critic Don Davies says he expects the Liberals to make good its promise to deliver national pharmacare, but perhaps not all at once. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Dr. Raimar Lobenberg, director of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and University of Alberta professor, works with researcher Chulhun Park on an automated filling machine in a cleanroom used for clinical trial production in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Scientists hope to link lab bench with pharmacy shelves through Edmonton drug plant

World-leading lab, drug manufacturer hope to plug hole in Canada’s drug supply system

Dr. Raimar Lobenberg, director of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and University of Alberta professor, works with researcher Chulhun Park on an automated filling machine in a cleanroom used for clinical trial production in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. Critics of a major drug-price overhaul hope a new federal cabinet will put a temporary stop to the new regulations set to come into effect in January. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is set to change the way it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive drug prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Critics hope Trudeau’s new cabinet will put a stop to drug-price regulation changes

Overhaul has drawn the disapproval of patient groups and drug manufacturers

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. Critics of a major drug-price overhaul hope a new federal cabinet will put a temporary stop to the new regulations set to come into effect in January. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is set to change the way it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive drug prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot