Liberals and New Democrats reach a deal on pharmacare

The federal Liberal government and the NDP have come to an agreement on pharmacare, clearing the way for the two parties to continue operating under the confidence-and-supply agreement that has helped keep the government in power over the past two years.

In an interview with CBC's Rosemary Barton Live airing Sunday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said weeks of talks between the two sides have produced draft legislation that will set out the framework for a national pharmacare program and, in the short term, new coverage for contraception and diabetes treatment.

A senior government source confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

«We've secured something really important, I would say really historic for Canadians. We're really excited about this,» Singh said.

Singh said the coverage will be «universal» and work «very much like the system that's actually been rolled out in [British Columbia] for example for contraceptives.» He said «a wide class of contraceptives» will be covered, «including [Intrauterine devices], prescription contraceptives and the emergency contraception that people take.»

The NDP leader said «a wide range of insulin and other medication» will be covered for those suffering from diabetes.

Under the terms of the confidence-and-supply agreement signed in March 2022, the Liberal government committed to passing legislation — a Canada Pharmacare Act — by the end of 2023, in exchange for NDP support on key votes in the House of Commons. In December, the parties agreed to push back the deadline to March.

As the new deadline approached, Singh's public pressure on the government became louder — and private grumbling and threats leaked out to reporters. Singh said Friday that, by including coverage for contraception and