Statement regarding the adoption of Bill C-64, The Pharmacare Act

We are disappointed to see Bill C-64, The Pharmacare Act, be adopted without amendments.

While Bill C-64 is only the first step in implementing a federal universal, single-payer pharmacare program, there are over two million Canadians taking diabetes medications or contraceptives through private insurance plans that are not currently included on the federal list.  

If eventually expanded to cover all categories of drugs, the federal pharmacare plan would strip 27 million Canadians of their workplace insurance. Many who are reimbursed for medications through these programs would be forced to switch treatments, likely to inferior alternatives. 

As we expressed when the Bill passed the Senate committee last week, the government never clearly communicated its intentions to Canadians, which prevented an informed study and debate. 

The Bill was, at various times, either presented as a full universal, single-payer system or as a fill-the-gaps program that would build on, rather than replace, existing private and provincial drug plans. This created significant confusion, but the government waited until the last-minute to confirm that it would be a universal, single-payer system in a letter to the Senate. 

The government could have worked with provinces and the business community on a clear plan that respects jurisdictions, builds on the strengths of our existing system and minimally raises public expenditures. Instead, they chose a costly model that will deteriorate rather than improve access to prescription drugs, violate provincial jurisdiction, and further burden Canadian taxpayers.  

• Kathy Megyery, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Quebec