Prime Minister Mark Carney’s vow to sign pharmacare agreements with every province and territory is welcome news after months of mixed signals from Ottawa. For too long, Canadians have been left guessing whether the federal Liberal government would follow through on its own landmark policy. Now Carney has drawn a line in the sand: the deals will be finalized “as quickly and as equitably as possible.” It’s a necessary commitment, but it’s also only half the battle.
The first phase of the pharmacare program universal, single-payer coverage of contraceptives and certain diabetes medications is already making a difference. Yet, to date, only Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Yukon have signed on. That leaves most Canadians without guaranteed access to even these limited benefits. Reproductive health and patient-advocacy groups are right to warn that a patchwork of coverage is both unfair and inefficient.
Carney’s promise comes at a time when the government is warning of “tough choices” in the next budget to protect key social programs. If Ottawa truly values affordability and security for Canadians, pharmacare must remain a cornerstone of federal health policy, not a bargaining chip in budget negotiations. Canadians should not have to wonder whether they can afford vital medication because federal–provincial talks stalled or political priorities shifted.
Still, the bigger question looms: Will the Liberals ever deliver the full, universal pharmacare system they pledged back in 2019? Carney’s careful answer “that is a different question” speaks volumes. Incremental progress is better than abandonment, but incrementalism is not vision. With the expert committee’s report due in October, Ottawa will soon have a roadmap for a truly universal plan. The government should be prepared to act on it, not just study it.
Carney deserves credit for reaffirming that no province or territory will be left behind in this first stage. But Canadians deserve a federal government ready to finish what it started. Signing these initial deals is a step forward; building a comprehensive, universal pharmacare system is the destination. It’s time for Ottawa to prove it has the courage and the political will to get us there.
