Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau says a new national pharmacare program will be "fiscally responsible" and designed to fill in gaps, not provide prescription drugs for Canadians already covered by existing plans. Eric Hoskins, Ontario's former Liberal health minister, will chair a council that will consult with stakeholders and make recommendations to government on how to proceed with a national plan. Morneau says free pharmacare won't be for everyone1:30Ontario adopted a pharmacare plan this year that offers free medication to babies, children and youth aged 24 and under who have OHIP coverage. No cost estimate for a national pharmacare program was provided in the budget, prompting NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to declare the strategy a "fantasy." Singh believes limiting eligibility would fall short of the full-fledged pharmacare program Canadians want.

Source: CBC News February 28, 2018 16:43 UTC