Drug coverage in Canada is a patchwork; an inequitable inefficient and unsustainable patchwork with no coherence or purpose. Some people think that we can solve the problem by adding more patches, but the core of the problem is that it is a patchwork. For the working population, access to medicines is still organized as privileges offered by employers to their employees. Universal pharmacare would not only provide better access to needed prescription drugs, but also eliminate waste, ensure value-for-money and help improve drug safety and appropriate prescribing. Opponents fear that a universal pharmacare plan would ration drugs, and impede drug access for some patients. However, these claims misunderstand the reality of drug coverage, pricing and access. Opponents propose, instead, to “fill the gap” of current drug coverage by implementing catastrophic coverage, which would serve commercial interests without maximizing health outcomes for the Canadian population. In spite of overwhelming evidence and consensus in the academic community in favour of universal pharmacare, the battle is far from over.

On February 6, 2020, just 7 sitting days into Canada’s 43rd Parliament, and a week and a half after the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg confirmed Canada’s first case of Covid-19, I launched a Senate Inquiry into finding the right pathways and actions for Canada and Canadians to meet our net zero carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions targets in order to slow, arrest and hopefully reverse human- caused climate change, to ensure a healthy planet, a healthy society, a healthy economy and a healthy democracy.

During our June 23rd Group of 78 virtual gathering, I will highlight the intention behind the launch of the inquiry, the substance of my speech, the contributions of my fellow senators and ambitions for amplifying the conversation and its impact.