Liberals break their promise to millions of Canadians waiting for free medicine

In reaction to Liberal government not committing to sign pharmacare funding deals with all provinces and territories, NDP Leader Don Davies issued the following statement:

“The Liberals breaking their promise to start delivering pharmacare is a betrayal of the millions of Canadians who are waiting their turn to access free prescription medication.

New Democrats fought hard and delivered the beginnings of pharmacare for Canadians in the last Parliament. We secured free diabetes and birth control medication and devices. Three provinces and one territory have already signed pharmacare agreements with the federal government, so people there can benefit from this life-saving program. New Brunswick is ready to join - but the Carney government is blocking the process by refusing to commit the funding that was promised in last year's federal budget.

Let’s be clear: families need a government that fights for them - not one that allows huge, profitable drug companies to cash in when people are sick. Canadians are struggling with the high cost of prescription medicines because they’re being gouged by these pharmaceutical giants. With Trump’s trade war and Mark Carney’s proposed cuts to federal services, things will only get worse for working families.

Let’s not forget that during the election, Mark Carney refused to commit to expanding pharmacare. At the same time, he promised a $17 billion tax cut that would only benefit millionaires and billionaires by scrapping the capital gains tax. He was clear whose side he’s on—and it’s not the working class.

New Democrats fought to ensure that no one has to skip the medicine they need. We know that prescription medicines - things like antibiotics, heart medication and cholesterol drugs - are essential to primary health. And we know that millions of Canadians don’t have access simply because they can’t afford it.

We call on Mark Carney immediately to get back on track and honour the law we passed last Parliament. We call on him to finalize pharmacare agreements with all remaining provinces and territories and allocate the funding Liberals promised so that no Canadian has to choose between life-saving medicine and putting food on the table.”