The Council of Canadians celebrates historic win for public health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA – The Pharmacare Act (Bill C-64) has passed the final Senate vote and is poised to receive Royal Assent.
Council of Canadians Executive Director, Christina Warner, has issued the following statement:
“Today’s passage of the Pharmacare Act marks a victory for people over profit and a triumph for defenders of public health care against corporate interests that have long worked to block progress. Now, it’s up to premiers to act swiftly to ensure that the bill delivers on its promise, so that all Canadians – no matter our income or background – can access the life-changing relief it offers.
“The passage of this legislation was hard-fought and won through grassroots organizing and public pressure in the face of relentless corporate lobbying from Big Pharma and the insurance industry—the two industries with the most profit to lose from a universal, single-payer pharmacare program. Now, we need to make sure our premiers stand with Canadians, not with the corporate lobbyists determined to maintain the broken status quo.
“Every delay by the provinces is a win for Big Pharma and a betrayal of millions of Canadians who are forced to skip medications because they can’t afford them. Canadians are counting on their provincial leaders not to play politics with their health and to make public, universal pharmacare a reality.”
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