Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM) is discouraged by the Government of Canada’s insufficient pledge to move forward on universal public pharmacare in today’s Speech from the Throne, and calls on the government to provide details on investments and timelines that are more reflective of its campaign promises now that the 43rd Parliament is in session.

Canadian Doctors for Medicare are deeply concerned over proposed and wide-ranging cuts to health care services in Alberta, including a reduction in acute care beds, layoffs for nursing staff and cuts to physician services, appearing to predominantly target family physicians serving complex and inner city patients.

Closing statements for the defense are scheduled to begin on Monday, 25 November 2019 before the Supreme Court of British Columbia in a landmark legal challenge that threatens the central organizing principle of Canada’s public health care system – that care should be provided first to those who need it most, not to those who can afford to pay for quicker access.

Canadian Doctors for Medicare congratulates the Hon. Patty Hajdu on her appointment today as the Minister of Health, and looks forward to working with her ministry and government on the implementation of national pharmacare and the strengthening of the Canada Health Act.

Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM) congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada on winning re-election, and urges the new government to make a clear and substantial commitment to implementing universal public pharmacare in its 2020 federal budget.