Pharmacare, which Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to protect, is now officially on the chopping block as the Liberals prioritize corporate tax cuts and military spending over healthcare.
The federal government has downgraded pharmacare to a “pilot project,” meaning no new funding deals with provinces will be negotiated and those few that do exist (BC, Yukon, PEI and Manitoba) will be allowed to expire.
Universal coverage for diabetes medications and contraceptives in those provinces could be rolled back without federal support.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel confirmed in the House of Commons that pharmacare is one of many programs “that are set to end in the coming years.”
This is a major betrayal of the Liberal government. Mark Carney campaigned against Pierre Poilievre by promising to protect pharmacare from Conservatives cuts.
Call Health Minister Marjorie Michel and your federal MP today to say: Keep Your Promise, We Want Pharmacare For All!
Make a call
TALKING POINTS / SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT
Hi, my name is [name], I live in [city/riding] and I’m a supporter of the Council of Canadians.
(Mention any support you may have given the MP / their party in the past, if relevant: voting, donating, volunteering, etc.)
I am deeply disturbed to hear that the federal government is cutting pharmacare funding. Halting pharmacare before it has even started for most Canadians is incredibly short-sighted.
Pharmacare saves lives, it saves money, and it helps take the pressure off our overburdened health care system.
How is it that there are billions for corporate tax breaks and military contracts, but no money for investing in this key missing piece of our healthcare system?
No one should have to choose between taking their medication and paying for rent or food.
(Share any experiences you or someone close to you from your province may have had with lack of coverage or unaffordable drug costs)
I’m calling to let you that people in [your province/your riding] are paying attention, and that we expect to the Liberal government to keep its promise on pharmacare.
Rather than making cuts to healthcare, the federal government should fully fund universal pharmacare for all Canadians and move forward with new funding agreements so that everyone across the country can access the medications they need.
Step-by-step instructions
- Have your phone handy and open your computer.
- On your computer, click here to access the calling tool
- Enter your information in the web form.
- Get your phone ready and then, on your computer, click ‘Make the Call’.
- Your phone will ring. Answer it! At the same time, scroll down on the web page to see the phone script.
- Your phone will now automatically connect you. Leave a message on each answering machine using the script (feel free to modify as you see fit!).
- After each message you leave, DON’T HANG UP! Press * and you’ll automatically be connected to the next target number.
- Repeat until the end. When you’ve left a message for all targets you’re ready to hang up.
Targets
Marjorie Michel, Federal Health Minister
- Constituency Office: 514-277-1645
- Parliamentary Office: 613-947-9299
Sean Casey, MP – Charlottetown
- Constituency Office: 902-566-7770
- Parliamentary Office: 613-996-4714
Heath MacDonald, MP – Malpeque
- Constituency Office: 613-992-2406
- Parliamentary Office: 902-566-4577
Kent MacDonald, MP – Malpeque
- Constituency Office: 902-838-4987
- Parliamentary Office: 613-995-9325
Robert Morrissey, MP – Egmont
- Constituency Office: 902-432-6899
- Parliamentary Office: 613-992-9223
Hedy Fry, HESA Chair
- Constituency Office: 514-277-1645
- Parliamentary Office: 613-947-9299
Sonia Sidhu, MP – Liberal Caucus
- Constituency Office: 905-846-0076
- Parliamentary Office: 613-995-5381
