After the federal government reneged on pharmacare, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) is demanding the Conservatives to outline their plan to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have access to the medications they need.
The National Pharmacare program, launched in 2024 after the New Democratic Party worked with the federal government to establish it, allowed provinces and territories to negotiate coverage for diabetes medications and contraceptives, helping make essential medications more affordable and accessible. Dinn says the provincial Liberals chose political optics over improving access to care and keeping people healthy.
“The fact that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do not have access to this program is directly tied to the former Liberal government refusing to meet with their federal counterparts,” said Dinn. “There was a clear lack of political will. At the time, the federal Liberals were falling in the polls and distancing themselves amid the carbon tax debate – something Furey’s government was loudly against. Why else would they sit on their hands while people in this province struggled to afford medication?”
“It is deplorable that the federal government is now backing away from its promise on pharmacare. That is not what New Democrats fought for. A plague on all their houses.”
Dinn says the new PC government, while claiming the door had already been shut on joining the program, did not do enough to advocate to the Prime Minister on why the province should be included. Instead, Dinn says government focused its attention on Bay du Nord while people continue to struggle to afford medication. He is now calling on government to outline its plan to address the gap and ensure people can access the medications they need.
“While our new government was meeting with the federal government members, they clearly prioritized securing Bay du Nord, not pharmacare – something that would help 1 in 3 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have diabetes,” said Dinn.
“So, what’s the plan? Who is going to fix this? What is the Premier going to do to ensure people have access to these medications?” said Dinn. “Will government add these medications to the NL Prescription Drug Program or make them easier to access? Enough excuses – we need action so people in this province can truly be healthy.”