Canadian Health Coalition urges senators to pass pharmacare bill without delay

October 2, 2024

By Steven Staples

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We are at a critical and historic moment in the progress toward pharmacare for all Canadians.

Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare, will soon be presented for third reading, and we urge everyone to support Bill C-64 with no amendments.

On Tuesday, October 1, the Canadian Health Coalition, Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and the Heart and Stroke Foundation met with key senators to urge them to support Bill C-64 with no amendments.

Left-to-right: Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Canadian Health Coalition, Jason MacLean, Chair of the Canadian Health Coalition, Manuel Arango, Director of Health Policy and Advocacy of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Senator Marc Gold, Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Siobhán Vipond, Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Nate Little, Governmental Relations Officer of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

Read our brief presented to the senators. Its main points:

50 civil society organizations supported Bill C-64 in its present form.
Budget 2024 provided $1.5 billion covering diabetes medication for 4 million diabetics and contraception for 9 million Canadians of reproductive age.
The MOU between the federal and BC governments shows how quickly bilaterial agreements can be reached while recognizing unique provincial needs with the clear possibility of adding new types of medications.
A strong majority of Canadians across the country support pharmacare, are aware of Bill C-64, and support cooperation between premiers and the federal government.

Recommendation:

The Canadian Health Coalition joins with other civil society organizations that support pharmacare in encouraging the Senate to pass Bill C-64 with no amendment, at the earliest possible opportunity.

Left-to-right: Manuel Arango, Director of Health Policy and Advocacy of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Nate Little, Governmental Relations Officer of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie, Jason MacLean, Chair of the Canadian Health Coalition, Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Canadian Health Coalition and Elizabeth Kwan, Senior Research with the Canadian Labour Congress.

The Canadian Health Coalition has been campaigning for equitable access to prescription medication for decades. The coalition comprises 20 organizations representing front line health care workers, community and faith groups, experts and students committed to public health care.

Enclosures:

Canadian Health Coalition submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI) on Bill C-64, An Act Respecting Pharmacare. September 30, 2024

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology regarding Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare. August 2024.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Submission regarding Bill C-64, An Act Respecting Pharmacare Submitted to Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. September 26, 2024.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Submission to Senate SOCI Standing Committee (Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology) RE: Bill C-64, the “Pharmacare Act”. September 16, 2024.

National Union and General Employees Union (NUPGE) letter to Senators re. Urgent Passage of Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare. October 1, 2024.

The Council of Canadians Submission to Senate SOCI Standing Committee (Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology) Re: Bill C-64, the “Pharmacare Act”. September 17, 2024.