QP Pharmacare Deal

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.

CLAUDIA CHENDER: The Minister of Health and Wellness recognized recently that time was of the essence to get a bilateral pharmacare deal done for Nova Scotians. I'll table that. This money has been on the table for months, and the government has refused to make a deal happen to help more Nova Scotians afford their medications. That includes birth control. My question to the minister is: Why has this government moved at a glacial pace to get a pharmacare deal with the federal government done?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON « » : We are in active negotiations with the federal government. I had an opportunity to speak with Minister Holland last month, and we were able to host a health ministers' meeting.

Nova Scotians expect us to do due diligence around the cost of all the programs we offer. This bilateral agreement is important, but we do know that the money will eventually sunset. It's very important as we move forward with fiscal responsibility that we understand the negotiated terms of a potential deal and that it is sustainable going into the future. More to say, but we are in active negotiations.

CLAUDIA CHENDER: I would urge people to look at the Auditor General's opinions on the due diligence we do around financial decisions. The federal funding for Pharmacare that is on the table would substantially reduced costs for Nova Scotians and provide health care that Nova Scotians, especially women, need and deserve. A federal election is approaching, which has the potential to disrupt progress on Pharmacare or even jeopardize it completely. My question to the minister is: Will this government make it happen and act fast to get a Pharmacare deal with the federal government while there's still time?

MICHELLE THOMPSON « » : It's very interesting to me, how we want due diligence, we don't want due diligence, we want due diligence, we don't want due diligence. We are in active negotiations. We need to make sure that there's a financially sustainable path if these medications are covered. Bilateral agreements are so important, but they sunset. We need to make sure - with the economics of the province, with the coverage that's available - that we can move forward sustainably. We are in active negotiations with the federal government. Minister Holland and I have had wonderful conversations. I'm confident of the team's ability to move forward.