NDP leader Jagmeet Singh rises during during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 29, 2024. Singh is warning Conservatives to back down from attempts to block pharmacare legislation, as the House of Commons prepares to vote on the bill for the first time. THE CANADIAN PRESS
In Ottawa, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is cautioning Conservatives against obstructing pharmacare legislation ahead of its inaugural House of Commons vote. The bill, a key component of the NDP's agreement with the governing Liberals, encompasses coverage for specific contraceptive and diabetes medications and supplies.
Last month, Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis proposed an amendment aiming to nullify the bill. Ellis argues that the proposed program fails to tackle healthcare challenges, providing an inadequate drug plan with higher costs and fostering a significant new bureaucracy.
Today, the New Democrats urged the Conservatives to retract the amendment, framing it as a final call. However, the Tories refused.
Despite the stance of the official Opposition, the bill is anticipated to pass comfortably with backing from the Liberals and the NDP.
