National

Clock ticking as pharmacare left out of budget

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Mar, 2023 02:16 PM

OTTAWA - One of the Liberals' outstanding promises for 2023 in their deal with the NDP was conspicuously absent from the federal budget.

The confidence-and-supply agreement requires the government to table legislation on pharmacare by the end of the calendar year in exchange for the NDP's support on key votes in the House of Commons.

Both parties say that is still on track to happen, but even if a bill is introduced by December, it's unclear when a pharmacare system could be up and running.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says that when the deal was struck, the Liberals wouldn't go beyond promising a legislative framework.

When I say I'm going to fight for you – I mean it.

This week's budget shows that when New Democrats use our power, we get real things done for people.

We've saved many families up to $1700 a year.

But I'm not done.

I'll keep fighting to tip the scales in your favour. pic.twitter.com/3TRQ4swk93
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) March 29, 2023

Singh claimed a win after Tuesday's federal budget announced the government would pump billions into a new dental-care program.

But while political experts and Conservatives are calling it an NDP-inspired budget, New Democrats say that if it was truly their budget, money for pharmacare would've been part of it.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Railtown man allegedly shoots a gun inside his apartment, neighbours evacuated: VPD

A person who was with the man when he began firing quickly fled and called 9-1-1, reporting that the shooter had been acting strangely for several days. VPD officers surrounded the building and evacuated neighbours who were in harm’s way so they could begin communicating with the suspect.

Railtown man allegedly shoots a gun inside his apartment, neighbours evacuated: VPD

21 year old Sikh woman, Pawanpreet Kaur, shot dead outside gas station in Mississauga

Police are on a lookout for the suspect who was dressed in all dark clothing and was observed leaving the scene on foot following the incident. Calling it a targeted incident, the police has launched a homicide investigation.

21 year old Sikh woman, Pawanpreet Kaur, shot dead outside gas station in Mississauga

Canada to fund programs for immigrant health staff

Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser says the federal government is calling for proposals for projects that offer Canadian work experience for internationally trained health professionals or streamline the process that recognizes international medical credentials.

Canada to fund programs for immigrant health staff

Chinese immigration to Canada record high from 2015, as some flee zero-COVID strategy

Tiffany, a Richmond, B.C., immigration consultant who only wanted her first name used for fear of reprisals against her family from China,said many of her clients say China’s zero-COVID strategy made them feel “their freedom and liberties have been stripped away."

Chinese immigration to Canada record high from 2015, as some flee zero-COVID strategy

Pharmacists ask parents not to stockpile kids meds

The federal government imported one million units of children's acetaminophen — commonly known as Tylenol — as emergency relief amid a shortage coupled with soaring rates of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV.

Pharmacists ask parents not to stockpile kids meds

B.C.'s COVID response praised for 'nimbleness'

The review made 26 findings, including recommendations around better communications, transparency, data collection and improved public trust. Farnworth said the government tried to be as open as possible during the pandemic and based its decisions on the best public health advice available.