Health Minister Mark Holland said on Monday that meeting the NDP’s demand for passing a pharmacare bill within eight weeks "is going to be challenging."According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Holland told reporters that the estimated annual cost of $11 billion raised questions about its feasibility within "fiscal reality."“There are hard conversations not only that are being had with New Democrats as the Supply and Confidence partners but with all parliamentarians, with stakeholders, about what is the art of possible here,” said Holland. “That’s complicated.”“There’s not enough money?” asked a reporter. “It is absolutely true that we’re in a challenging fiscal environment where we have to be prudent and be aware of the fiscal reality that we’re in and that’s the basis under which we’re negotiating,” replied Holland.The Parliamentary Budget Office last Thursday, in a report Cost Estimate of a Single Payer Universal Drug Plan, put costs at $11.2 billion in the first year. Under a 2022 Supply and Confidence Agreement with the NDP, the cabinet promised to pass a pharmacare bill by this Christmas to avoid a snap election.There has not been a pharmacare bill introduced and there are only 38 sitting days left for the House of Commons this year.“Getting to a decision on how we are going to navigate that space is going to be challenging,” said Holland.“Are you willing to compromise?” asked a reporter. “I’m always willing to compromise, but that compromise has to be in the best interest of the public health system and it has to be realistic against the fiscal climate that we’re in,” replied Holland.Since 2007, Parliament has not balanced a budget.“I think there are fair questions about what is possible in the fiscal framework that we’re in and I think Canadians expect us to be prudent with the fiscal framework,” said Holland.In an internal memo from April 27, the department of Health expressed concerns about the expense of implementing a pharmacare program.“Canadians are generally supportive of improving affordable access to prescription drugs but are also sensitive to cost considerations as government health-related expenses continue to grow,” said the memo.“A May 2022 Fraser Institute poll following the federal budget found that 79% of Canadians support universal national pharmacare with no costs attached,” said the memo. “Support fell by almost half to 40% if the program was to be financed by an increase in the GST.”Holland stated on Monday that he's considering introducing a pharmacare bill within the next 38 days. He clarified that the bill's introduction, not its final approval, satisfies the Confidence Agreement with the NDP.“In my mind, the spirit of that agreement is just that we would have legislation introduced this session,” said Holland. “That’s my intention, to see us introduce legislation before the session is up.”
