Singh accuses Poilievre of attempting to sabotage Pharmacare bill

The federal New Democrats are in a heated battle with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party over a bill that could potentially provide millions of Canadians with access to birth control and diabetes coverage. The NDP House Leader, Peter Julian, attempted to fast-track the federal government’s pharmacare legislation into the committee study stage on Monday in the House of Commons.

Bill C-64, introduced in late February, aims to establish the foundational principles of a national universal drug coverage plan, with an interim commitment to launch diabetes medication and birth control coverage for Canadians through a single-payer system. However, Conservative MP Stephen Ellis moved to block the bill during the first day of House debate in mid-April, citing concerns about the proposed plan.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized the Conservatives for attempting to halt the bill, highlighting the cost-of-living crisis faced by many Canadians and the impact it has on their health. Singh sent a letter to Poilievre and Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer, urging them to reconsider their stance and support the initiative.

Despite the procedural wrangling in the House of Commons, Singh vowed to continue pushing for free birth control and diabetes medications for Canadians. The government estimates that the first phase of pharmacare could significantly improve access to essential medications for millions of Canadians, with $1.5 billion allocated in the 2024 federal budget for the program.

Affected patients are set to come to Parliament Hill on Tuesday to advocate for the strengthening and swift passage of Bill C-64. The battle over pharmacare continues to unfold, with both parties standing firm in their positions on the crucial healthcare legislation.