On World Contraception Day, two major national organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Canadians are urging the Senate to swiftly pass Bill C-64 (The Pharmacare Act), which begins with universal coverage for birth control and diabetes medications and devices. “True reproductive justice means universal access to birth control, free of charge. That’s why we support this … Read more
Council of Canadians Executive Director Christina Warner issued a statement in anticipation of the passage of Bill C-64, Pharmacare Act, in the House: “Today’s vote brings us one step closer to realizing the long-awaited promise of national pharmacare. After years of government delays, fueled by the powerful lobbying efforts of Big Pharma and insurance giants, the patient- and community-led struggle … Read more
Nikolas Barry-Shaw, Council of Canadians’ campaigner for public pharmacare, issued a statement: “This budget commitment is an order of magnitude away from the investment we need to see public, single-payer pharmacare succeed. We celebrated when the Pharmacare Act was introduced because it prioritized care for people over the corporate power that has kept drug prices … Read more
Christina Warner, executive director of the Council of Canadians, issued a statement: “By embracing the principles of universal, single-payer health care, this bill lays the foundation for a system that can finally protect Canadians from price gouging by Big Pharma and insurance giants and dramatically improve access to much-needed medications. In the short term, universal coverage … Read more
The Council of Canadians’ Northumberland Chapter sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion and Economic Development Mary Ng (Markham-Thornhill, Ont.) and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) asking why the Canadian goverment backed a United States request that the group’s December invitation to a CUSMA dispute settlement panel be rescinded. … Read more
The Council of Canadians released the results of a survey conducted by Mainstreet Research on Jan. 25-26 which found that 64 per cent of Canadians prefer a universal pharmacare system over one that targets only the uninsured. This sentiment resonates across the political spectrum, including among a significant majority of Liberal and NDP voters (78 per cent and 92 … Read more
The Council of Canadians applauds the recent move by the governments of Nova Scotia and Canada to reject an offshore oil and gas exploration license. After years of undue corporate influence in the sector’s regulatory process, this decision leaves no remaining offshore bids or leases in the province—creating an opportune moment for a moratorium on … Read more
Members of the Council of Canadians and supporting organizations are gathering outside of Health Minister Mark Holland‘s (Ajax, Ont.) constituency office today to deliver more than 10,000 petition signatures calling for universal public pharmacare. “Our message to Minister Holland is clear: Canadians want universal single-payer pharmacare, so that everyone can access the medication they need regardless of … Read more
Robin Tress, co-executive director of the Council of Canadians, issued a statement: “We welcome the findings of a new report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, which shows that a universal, public pharmacare plan would dramatically expand people’s access to much-needed medications while also saving Canadians at least $2.2 billion in drug costs,” said Tress. “The … Read more
The Council of Canadians is alarmed to learn that the first draft of the Liberals’ forthcoming pharmacare bill has failed to fulfill a commitment to a public single-payer system. “For a bill that has been promised and anticipated for so long, it’s disappointing to hear that it’s so far from what we need and what … Read more
