Prime Minister Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.) first budget since being elected demonstrates a weak commitment to expanding and improving public health care and little vision to end the crisis facing millions of Canadians seeking help. Budget 2025 makes cuts to health, amounting to nearly $400 million a year by the end of the decade for Health … Read more
Public health care advocates are calling on governments to unite to defend and protect public health care programs during a face-to-face meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health in Calgary, Alta., on Oct. 16-17. “The future prosperity, self-reliance and sovereignty of Canada are tied closely to dependable public health care services,” said Steven … Read more
A news release from the Canadian Health Coalition urges provincial governments to fulfill their promise on pharmacare as the one-year anniversary of the Pharmacare Act approaches on October 10. While Manitoba, British Columbia, PEI, and Yukon have signed agreements with the federal government for free diabetes and contraception coverage, provinces like New Brunswick have not, … Read more
Nine months after the Pharmacare Act received Royal Assent on Oct. 10, 2024, four provinces and territories have signed bilateral agreements with the federal government valued at $928 million over four years starting in 2026. “With so few jurisdictions enrolled in pharmacare, four out of five Canadians are not benefiting from the program,” said Steven Staples, national … Read more
Voters will go to the ballot box on April 28 without any information about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre‘s (Carleton, Ont.) plans for Canada’s ailing public health care system. The Conservatives’ election platform, contains no details on how the would-be Prime Minister would address what three-quarters of Canadians describe as a health care “crisis” (Environics, 2024). “Why … Read more
The Canadian Health Coalition is expressing dismay to reports that leaders will not be asked how they will improve health care at the national leaders’ debate. The debate is being organized by the Leaders’ Debate Commission for April 16 (French) and April 17 (English). Steven Staples, national director of policy and advocacy of the Canadian Health … Read more
The Canadian Health Coalition reacted with deep concern to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s disappointing response to a question today regarding the dangerous privatization of public health care by provinces and territories that exposes patients to unfair charges and fees. “Mr. Carney failed to address Canadians’ concerns over the increased role of private, for-profit companies in … Read more
The Canadian Health Coalition (CHC) is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to clarify whether a re-elected Liberal government would negotiate new pharmacare agreements with willing provinces and territories. Carney said he is “committed to keeping what is in place” when asked about expanding coverage beyond contraceptives and diabetes treatments. “We cannot risk creating an … Read more
The Canadian Health Coalition urges voters to “Vote Health Care” in the upcoming federal election, calling on candidates to defend and expand public Medicare. The group has launched a non-partisan website with tools for voters to question local candidates on issues like pharmacare, dental care, and privatization. “Our national universal health care program is facing … Read more
Members of the Canadian Health Coalition applauded the announcement today of $219 million over four years for universal coverage of a range of contraceptives and diabetes medications for Manitobans. “This is a historic agreement to implement the long-promised universal pharmacare program,” said Jason MacLean, chair of the Canadian Health Coalition. “Manitoba is leading the way … Read more
