Creation of universal pharmacare program a condition of Liberal-NDP supply-and-confidence deal

From: NDP tables pharmacare bill to pressure government | CBC News

In what party leader Jagmeet Singh describes as an effort to pressure the Liberal government on the file, the NDP has tabled legislation to establish a universal single-payer pharmacare system in Canada.

“This is a first step towards universal medication coverage for all,” Singh told a news conference.

“We believe no one should have to choose between buying their medication or buying their groceries, and this bill will move us towards that.”

The creation of a national universal pharmacare program by the end of the year is a condition of the House of Commons supply-and-confidence agreement between the Liberals and the NDP.

NDP health critic Don Davies sponsored the private member’s bill, titled the Canada Pharmacare Act. The legislation has little chance of passing through Parliament without the support of the Liberal government, but Singh encouraged the Liberals to turn it into a government bill.