Canadians can’t wait for pharmacare, Senators

All hopes rest on the Senate to pass Bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act, now that the landmark legislation has been approved by the House of Commons.

But time is running out before the summer recess starts at the end of the month, and signs are emerging the Upper Chamber is in no hurry to allow Bill C-64 to achieve Royal Assent and become law.

I appeared before the Senate Finance Committee and urged members to pass the Budget 2024 Implementation Act Bill C-69 which contains funding for pharmacare.

Steven Staples, National Director of Policy and Advocacy, presents to the Senate Finance Committee (NFFN) on June 5, 2024, urging them to pass Budget 2024 and the Pharmacare Act. Watch video

“Taken together, Bill C-69 and Bill C-64 are landmark legislation that takes an important first step in continuing progress toward a universal national pharmacare program,” I said to the Senate committee.

To illustrate the broad support for passing Bill C-64, I presented a joint statement endorsed by 49 community organizations welcoming the Pharmacare Act.

Canadian Health Coalition members welcome the introduction of the Pharmacare Act, March 4, 2024 (signatures added June 5, 2024 [PDF])

“It is endorsed by a broad cross-section of civil society organizations and health care providers from every part of the country, including Heart and Stroke, Canadian Doctors for Medicare, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights, many unions representing health care providers, nurses, and organizations advocating for the disabled, retirees, women, and immigrants,” I told Senators.

Members of the Canadian Health Coalition will return to Ottawa next week to press for the Pharmacare Act. Our message is this: “Don’t ask Canadians to wait for pharmacare. Pass Bill C-64 before the summer.”