Federal lobbying records show that insurance sector representatives lobbied decision-makers about pharmacare at least 53 times between April 28 and November 25, according to a statement from the group. The lobbyists represented the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association and several major companies, including Manulife, Canada Life, Sun Life, and Greenshields.
Three provinces and one territory — Manitoba, B.C., P.E.I. and Yukon — have signed pharmacare agreements with Ottawa since then.
Carney told reporters in September that his government intends to follow through with pharmacare deals covering every province and territory. However, there was no new money for the program in November’s federal budget.
“Insurance industry interests have taken full advantage of the ‘open door’ policy for corporate lobbyists adopted by the Liberal government, to the detriment of the millions of Canadians who are struggling to afford their medications,” said Nikolas Barry-Shaw, lead campaigner on pharmacare for the Council of Canadians.
In the lead-up to the election, Carney pledged to provide “dental care and pharmacare for everyone who needs it” and the federal Liberal Party platform stated that a Carney government would “protect dental care and pharmacare.”
At a campaign event in P.E.I. last year, just days before the election, Carney said in a speech: “Pharmacare will provide free contraceptives to nine million Canadians and diabetes medication to almost four million Canadians. Pierre Poilievre will eliminate it because he thinks it’s everyone for themselves.”
New Brunswick’s Liberal government under Premier Susan Holt — who promised free contraceptives in their 2024 election platform — has so far appeared lukewarm about pharmacare.
Dornan previously stated that an offer from the feds wasn’t enough to cover the province’s pharmacare costs and that “New Brunswickers are already relatively well covered.”
But diabetes patients and public health advocates say there is widespread hardship among low-income people forced to choose between groceries, rent, and life-sustaining treatments.
Canada is the only country in the world with a universal health care system but no universal coverage for medication outside of hospitals.
