The Medical Care Act, passed into law in 1966 but not fully implemented until 1972, established a cost-sharing arrangement between the federal government and the provinces to ensure universal public health insurance for hospitals and physician services.

If C-64 passes Parliament, Health Minister Mark Holland will begin negotiating with the provinces and territories on a funding commitment that would cover the cost of providing these medications to people for free.

Dr. Bettina Hamelin, president of Innovative Medicines Canada — which represents pharmaceutical companies — said that "moving provinces and territories towards a single-payer pharmacare system would ultimately reduce the quality of drug coverage for most Canadians."

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