Pharmacare talks with Liberals 'not looking very promising': NDP
Talks between the Liberals and the NDP for pharmacare framework legislation are "not looking very promising at the moment," according to a lead negotiator for the parties' confidence-and-supply agreement.
The March 1 deadline is fast approaching for the federal government to table pharmacare framework legislation as part of its confidence-and-supply agreement with the NDP.
The pact sees the NDP prop up the Liberals until 2025 in exchange for progress on key priorities, including pharmacare.
Anne McGrath — who recently left her role as NDP national director to become leader Jagmeet Singh's "principal secretary" — said in a radio interview on The Vassy Kapelos Show on Wednesday that while she still thinks it's "entirely possible" the Liberals come forward with a plan in the next two weeks, "it is also entirely possible that it is not acceptable."
If the latter is the case, McGrath said, her advice would be that the NDP "take the position that the Liberals have walked away" from the confidence-and-supply deal, and the deal would come to an end.
She added, however, she thinks it would be "really unfortunate" if the parties scrapped the pact now.
"I've been pretty confident and optimistic about all of the things that we were able to achieve, the things we were able to push the Liberal government to do in the agreement, and I want to get those things done," she said. "But I don't think we should be willing to accept really weakened commitments, I think that we need to actually, as the agreement says, make progress."
The Liberals and the NDP had originally set a deadline to pass framework legislation by the end of last year, but in the fall decided to push the deadline to introduce that legislation to March 1.
"There were some negotiations that were getting closer, just up to Christmas time, so we agreed to an extension to see if we could get it over the finish line," McGrath said. "And I'm not sure if the commitment is there from the Liberals to actually do what is required."
McGrath said what the Liberals put forward to the NDP in the fall was "unacceptable," and they haven't seen any draft legislation since the new year.
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux estimates the overall cost of a single-payer, universal pharmacare program would be about $11 billion a year.
And while Health Minister Mark Holland has cautioned that the federal government "can't afford this to be a massively expensive program," McGrath said she's "puzzled" by the price tag being the main deterrent for the Liberals.
"And I think it's disingenuous to talk about these large numbers, when they know, and we know, and I think probably you know, that that's not what we've been talking about in this initial stage," she said. "We want the legislative framework, and some beginning steps."
Last week, Singh warned he'd put the prime minister "on notice" over the issue, adding there will be "repercussions" if the Liberals don't table a sufficient piece of pharmacare framework legislation by next month.
He also signalled he'll consider a missed deadline to mean the Liberals have "walked away" from their confidence-and-supply agreement.
Then, on Tuesday, he doubled down, saying he told the prime minister and the Liberals they "can't keep stringing Canadians along," and he expects to see legislation that "lays out that foundation" for a single-payer, universal system.
"I feel like they may be missing a sense of urgency on this," McGrath said, adding there is certainly a sense of urgency on the part of the NDP, which already extended the deadline to table the framework legislation "in good faith."
Holland, in an interview with Kapelos that aired Sunday on CTV's Question Period, said the Liberals are not "pulling that fire alarm" on their deal with the NDP, and he has "every confidence" they'll meet the March 1 deadline.
When pressed on whether the framework will be for a single-payer system, however, Holland wouldn't specify, saying only that he is not "ideologically bound to any one option."
NDP health critic Don Davies, meanwhile, told reporters on Tuesday that his party has "drawn a red line" and insisted that a single-payer system is "a cornerstone" of the program, adding that any tabled legislation needs to at the very least "make progress toward that."
Davies specifically pointed to diabetes medication and contraception as two categories that he believes getting covered under a single-payer model is "eminently doable."
And McGrath told Kapelos a single-payer, universal system "was always (the) intent" in the NDP's deal with the Liberals.
"I don't know, potentially they were more concerned with political survival at that time or whatever," she said. "I don't know what it was, but somehow it seems to have dawned on them that this means actually doing something about it."
"It's been pretty clear all along where we have stood on this," she added.
With files from The Vassy Kapelos Show Producer Noah Wachter, Â鶹ӰÊÓ' Rachel Hanes and CTVNews.ca's Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
‘Ticking time bomb’: Those who raised suspicions about Trump suspect question if enough was done
The more Chelsea Walsh talked to the eccentric fellow American who seemed to pop up in every square and cobblestone street of Ukraine's capital, the more she got creeped out.
The London Police Service (LPS) is currently investigating a suspicious death in the east end.
Myths busted and lessons learned: John Vennavally-Rao on his surgery to reverse his ostomy
Twenty-seven year Â鶹ӰÊÓ reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao shares his story of what it was like to have an ostomy bag as part of his health-care battle. 'I’m grateful for what it did to extend my life,' he writes in a personal column for CTVNews.ca.
Kamala Harris accepts CNN debate invitation for Oct. 23, challenging Trump to another showdown
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris on Saturday accepted an invitation from CNN to debate former U.S. president Donald Trump on Oct. 23.
Andre De Grasse soaking in the moment, enjoying reception after Olympic gold in Paris
Andre De Grasse, fresh off of winning Olympic gold in the 4x100-metre rally in Paris 2024, has been in Toronto for the latest few weeks as part of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Kids are inhaling 'Galaxy Gas' to get high. Here’s what parents should know
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas — and lately, that’s in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
Housing support for adult children with severe autism is 'absolutely absurd,' say parents
Looking after an adult with severe autism can be a full-time job. Ask any parent who has a child severely affected by autism spectrum disorder – it’s a job that can get more difficult as the child becomes an adult.
Ariana Grande, Billie Eillish and Chappell Roan among stars set for 'SNL' Season 50
'Saturday Night Live' will have a slew of famous faces to help kick off its historic 50th season when the show returns later this month.
Local Spotlight
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.