愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Senate passes Liberal, NDP bill to cover diabetes and birth control medication

Share
OTTAWA -

The pharmacare bill that was central to a political pact between the Liberals and NDP become law Thursday after the Senate passed the bill without making any changes.

The vote was swiftly followed by royal assent Thursday evening.

The legislation will inform the creation of any future national, universal pharmacare plan.

It will also allow the government to sign deals with provinces and territories to cover diabetes and birth-control medications as part of the public health system.

"This is going to be truly transformative for millions of Canadians," Health Minister Mark Holland said in a video posted on social media Thursday evening after the vote.

The wording and content of the bill was carefully negotiated as part of the now-defunct supply-and-confidence deal between the NDP and Liberals.

"This is something that Tommy Douglas always envisaged when he pushed for universal health care more than half a century ago," NDP health critic Peter Julian said in an interview Thursday.

"Canada is the only country with universal health care that doesn't have universal pharmacare."

British Columbia has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Ottawa to launch the program for diabetes and birth control drugs in that province.

Holland hopes to have all provinces and territories on board by next spring.

"Already provinces like B.C. and Manitoba have indicated an interest, which means agreements should be able to be signed rapidly, and the drugs should start to be supported," Julian said.

The new law calls for the government to convene an expert panel within the next month that will investigate the next steps in establishing a full-fledged pharmacare program.

That committee will have one year to report their recommendations to the health minister.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

Local Spotlight

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

Stay Connected