Liberals 'committed' to pharmacare, looking at 'responsible ways' to proceed: Trudeau
CTV
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has 'been committed' but is looking at 'responsible ways' to proceed with its promised pharmacare bill.
With his lead legislative manager acknowledging the Liberals likely won't get a pharmacare bill by the end of this year as promised, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has "been committed" but is looking at "responsible ways" to proceed.
Asked about the impending deadline and speculation over the Liberals' commitment to a universal drug plan, Trudeau said the Liberals are "ready to go" on a bill, but work continues with the NDP "to try and make sure that it's as ambitious" as it can be, amid the current economic context.
"People are paying too much for medications in this country. They should never have to decide between paying for rent or food and medications, and that's what we're working on together," Trudeau said.
Passing a "Canada Pharmacare Act" in 2023 to set up a framework for the drug plan was one of the core planks of the two-party agreement meant to provide the minority Liberal government parliamentary stability until June 2025, in exchange for progress on progressive policies.
Asked whether the minority Liberals can still afford a multibillion-dollar national pharmacare plan, in light of his government's new vow to keep deficits below one per cent of GDP, Trudeau said they've already taken some measures to lower drug costs, but they "will continue to work in responsible ways to move forward."
These questions are being raised now, with less than three weeks left in the House sitting calendar and the NDP signalling on Monday that if the federal government needs more time to make good on its confidence-and-supply deal commitment to pass pharmacare legislation this year, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will be expecting "more results" in exchange.
Weighing in on the timeline, Government House Leader Karina Gould said while she's confident the two parties will land on an agreeable draft bill, "I don't think we're going to get it passed by the end of this year, but we'll definitely keep working."
