Federal government will work out more pharmacare deals, Carney says

Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is committed to signing pharmacare deals with all provinces and territories, ending months of speculation about the program being cut short.

The Liberals launched the first phase of the national pharmacare program last year, with the support of the NDP, to cover the cost of contraceptives and some diabetes medications.

The pharmacare law that was passed last fall required that the federal government negotiate funding deals with provinces and territories.

So far, only Manitoba, B.C., P.E.I. and Yukon have struck such deals. Those four agreements account for more than 60 per cent of the pharmacare money set aside in the last budget.

Earlier this summer, the office of Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the Liberals were only committed to protecting the existing deals.

At a news conference in Edmonton on Thursday, Carney said the upcoming federal budget will involve some tough choices in order to protect programs like pharmacare and dental care.