Saskatchewan's main political parties weigh in on Ottawa's new pharmacare program

Saskatchewan's main political parties are split ahead of the upcoming election on whether the province should opt in to the new federal pharmacare program covering diabetes medication and birth control.

The pharmacare bill received royal assent on Thursday and has now become law. The legislation — which passed in the Senate without any amendments — will inform the creation of any future national, universal pharmacare plan.

It will allow the federal government to sign deals with provinces and territories to cover diabetes and birth-control medications as part of the public health system.

The Saskatchewan Party says it will need more information regarding the federal government's plans before signing on. 

"We are not interested in reducing the scope of our existing drug plan to align with a new national plan if the new plan will result in reduced benefits," the Sask. Party said on Monday in an emailed statement. 

• Read full coverage of the 2024 Sask. provincial election
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On the other hand, the Saskatchewan NDP says it will sign the agreement if elected to "reduce prescription costs." 

"It's our hope that they [Sask. Party] will not opt out of what are critical services for people," said Meara Conway, Sask. NDP candidate for Regina Elphinstone-Centre. 

WATCH | National pharmacare bill is now law. Can the feds get provinces to sign on?:

National pharmacare bill is now law. Can the feds get provinces to sign on?

2 months ago

Duration 1:55

Legislation to establish a framework for universal pharmacare in Canada is now law. The program will provide patients with diabetes and birth control medication, but Ottawa must get provinces to sign on before the program rolls out.

Alberta and Quebec have already said they plan to opt out of the new program, arguing health care comes under provincial jurisdiction. British Columbia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ottawa to launch the program in that province.

On Friday, federal Health Minister Mark Holland said that while it won't be easy, he believed it "absolutely is possible" for the federal government to strike pharmacare agreements with all the provinces by the spring.

Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre has indicated he would reject the proposed single-payer system if his party is elected, suggesting it would shut down private drug plans.