Alberta, Quebec Plan to Opt Out of National Pharmacare Plan

Alberta and Quebec have announced plans to “opt out” of Ottawa’s proposed national pharmacare program, citing a lack of consultation and the potential for high provincial administrative costs. The pledge to pass on the country-wide health initiative comes just days after the NDP confirmed it reached a deal on pharmacare with the Liberals. The proposed plan would allow every Canadian with a health card to access free diabetes medication and birth control. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia both remain on the fence about the program, saying they would require more information before making any decisions. New Brunswick described the announcement of such a program without provincial consultation as “irresponsible.”...