Is pharmacare on ice? Health minister says no new deals with provinces in the works

Canada’s public pharmacare program appears to be in limbo, with the federal health minister confirming Ottawa isn't in talks with the remaining provinces and territories to reach deals.

This month's budget also did not include additional money to expand coverage nationwide — leaving advocates questioning the future of the public drug plan.

More than a year ago, the Trudeau Liberals passed the Canada Pharmacare Act. In it, the federal government committed to signing agreements with all provinces and territories to cover the cost of contraceptive and diabetes medications and devices.

Seen as the first step to bring in nationwide, universal drug insurance for Canadians, four provinces and territories — B.C., Manitoba, P.E.I. and Yukon — signed deals with Ottawa before the federal election.

But since then, no more agreements have been announced. Health Minister Marjorie Michel tells CBC News her department is not in active discussions to sign any others.

“For now, we have the four provinces with this coverage,” Michel said.

“I'm continuing conversation with provinces and territories on next steps. So not for today, but I'm still continuing conversations."

But are those conversations happening in earnest?

CBC News reached out to the remaining provinces and territories to see if they were currently in talks with Ottawa to sign a deal. No jurisdiction said they were.

Ontario’s Ministry of Health did not provide a response. Saskatchewan and New Brunswick both said they were ready to speak with Ottawa. Quebec and Alberta said they were waiting to hear back from the federal government.

Alberta also said it has “serious concerns” about the program’s long-term sustainability. That province has told Ottawa it wants to decide what medications are covered.

“We also have yet to receive details on the federal government's long-term vision for pharmacare or how it will be financially sustained,” the Alberta Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services wrote in a statement to CBC News.

When asked repeatedly about the nature of negotiations with the remaining provinces, Michel pointed to some of them wanting different medications covered.

“When the pharmacare agreement happened last time, some provinces or territories didn't want to have the two coverages that we offered at that time. And it's still true,” Michel said.