Mere hours before the deadline the federal New Democrats set to withdraw their support of the minority Liberal government the NDP’s pharmacare bill was tabled in the House of Commons on Thursday.
So far, it will cover diabetes medication and supplies, and contraception.
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus calls is a “dramatic life changer” that provides a framework for expansion of what will be covered under universal pharmacare.
“Start with Step 1, the diabetes access, the contraception – that will be made available and then from there, we push the legislation through,” he remarks.
Angus notes that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says he’ll do whatever it takes to stop the measures. Angus’s message to Poilievre is to ask affected families if it’s worth it.
“It should be above partisanship. We should be doing the right thing. All the studies say this will save he system billions of dollars and save lives. So we’re determined to make this happen.”
Angus says his party had to drag Prime Minister Trudeau kicking and screaming into understanding the importance of pharmacare.