If Liberals need more time to deliver pharmacare bill, 'more results' expected: NDP
CTV
If the federal Liberals need more time to make good on their commitment to pass pharmacare legislation this year, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will be expecting 'more results,' in exchange.
If the federal Liberals need more time to make good on their commitment to pass pharmacare legislation this year, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will be expecting "more results," in exchange.
Amid a looming deadline and speculation over what would happen to the Liberal-NDP deal if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government cannot keep their promise, on Monday the federal NDP said it doesn't plan to ease off their pressure, while signalling they are considering what comes next if no bill materializes in 2023.
"Negotiations are still ongoing and our talks remain constructive. We believe there is enough time left for the government to honour its commitment," said NDP Director of Communications Alana Cahill in a statement to CTV News.
"If more time is required, we expect more results for Canadians," she said.
As of Monday, just 15 scheduled sitting days remain before the House of Commons takes a month-long holiday hiatus, and the expected bill to set up a national pharmacare framework has yet to even be introduced or put on notice as soon-to-be-incoming.
Even if the Liberals do manage to present a bill in the next few weeks, with early adjournments common this time of year, and despite the Senate being slated to sit until Dec. 22, Health Minister Mark Holland has acknowledged the tight timeline.
The former government House leader—previously tasked with managing priority legislation's movement through all legislative stages— has expressed doubts about the feasibility of actually passing the bill through both chambers in time to keep this promise, suggesting tabling the bill may be a more realistic target.
