Tuesday, February 3, 2026
ADVT 
National

NDP urges action on pharmacare, dental care as health ministers meet in Halifax

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Jan, 2025 10:58 AM
  • NDP urges action on pharmacare, dental care as health ministers meet in Halifax

Canada's provincial and territorial health ministers are meeting with their federal counterpart in Halifax this week, and the New Democrats are urging them to ink pharmacare deals.

The national pharmacare law calls for the federal government to sign deals with provinces and territories to start funding coverage of birth control and diabetes medications. 

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland has said he hoped to have deals signed by this spring, but so far only B.C. has signed a memorandum of understanding. 

Other provinces have pledged to start covering some medications on their own. 

In a letter to Holland, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and health critic Peter Julian are also asking the Liberals to speed up expansion of the dental care program, which they say is nearly a month late. 

Both programs were a key part of the supply-and-confidence deal that saw the NDP keep the minority Liberal government in power from 2022 until last fall.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada should focus on larger vision in talks with Trump administration: ambassador

Canada should focus on larger vision in talks with Trump administration: ambassador
Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman says it's now time for Canada to shift its strategy in its conversations with the new administration, away from a transactional approach and toward a larger vision. Hillman told The Canadian Press the goal should be to find ways for the two countries to work together to achieve some of Trump's goals.

Canada should focus on larger vision in talks with Trump administration: ambassador

RCMP Black Hawk helicopters start patrolling Manitoba-U.S. border

RCMP Black Hawk helicopters start patrolling Manitoba-U.S. border
RCMP in Manitoba say residents near the U.S. border could start seeing and hearing Black Hawk helicopters on a regular basis as the national police force bolsters its presence in the area. The first patrol flight took off a day before the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump on Monday. 

RCMP Black Hawk helicopters start patrolling Manitoba-U.S. border

1 in hospital in Kelowna shooting

1 in hospital in Kelowna shooting
Kelowna R-C-M-P are investigating a weekend shooting that sent one person to hospital. The Mounties say a male arrived at Kelowna General Hospital early Sunday morning suffering from non-life-threatening injuries after being shot.

1 in hospital in Kelowna shooting

Four British Columbia communities get 26 new addiction treatment beds

Four British Columbia communities get 26 new addiction treatment beds
British Columbia's minister of health says the province has opened 26 new treatment beds for people with addictions in four communities over the last several months. The ministry says the 26 new spots, which are available at no cost to patients, will help up to 250 people, and more beds will be open by spring.

Four British Columbia communities get 26 new addiction treatment beds

How Canada is reacting to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump

How Canada is reacting to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump
Here's how notable Canadian politicians and groups are reacting to Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States Monday. While Trump initially promised to impose damaging tariffs on Canada on his first day in office, his team is now indicating those levies won’t come on Day 1.

How Canada is reacting to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump

Jump in number of respiratory cases at B.C. Children's Hospital emergency room

Jump in number of respiratory cases at B.C. Children's Hospital emergency room
British Columbia's Children's Hospital says it's seen a steady rise in the number of children coming in with respiratory symptoms. The hospital says in a statement that about 44 per cent of total visits from children to the emergency department involve respiratory illness. 

Jump in number of respiratory cases at B.C. Children's Hospital emergency room