I wonder if this is the right time to be trying to implement an expensive program like this given the other spending the government has been doing from COVID. OR if it's the perfect time because there's so much money going out the door people aren't going to care if more is. Or if the feds and provinces even have the will to implement such a program right now given the other COVID concerns on their plate. Also, it's been 2 years since the Lib gov has passed a budget.
There was money for mini Pharmacare in the Economic and Fiscal Update, 2020. I think we may see something that deals with high cost drugs, such as antiretrovirals. The government said in the EFU that they'd provide $500M annually for such a program starting two fiscal years from now, with the pandemic behind us.
They've also been working on the Canada Drug Agency. It will pool drug purchases, and should reduce costs for the provinces, and hopefully, consumers.
As for the budget - forecasting revenues and even expenses is sort of difficult. It looks to be clearer now though.
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