DSA IC supports the Bill C-213 of Canada’s New Democratic Party, stands behind Canadian Pharmacare

Canada is the only high-income nation that has a universal healthcare system without a universal pharmaceutical care system. The burden of many high-cost drugs that save lives unjustly falls on the Canadian people. One in five Canadians are unable to afford medications they need, and this situation has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, placing immense strain on ordinary Canadians solely in the name of profit.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada has proposed legislation that would expand necessary pharmaceutical care, and ensure a stronger social safety net for all Canadians. With Bill C-213, “An Act to Enact the Canada Pharmacare Act”, the NDP is fighting to protect lives, and create a better quality of life for their people. As is the case in the United States, the staunchest opponents of this bill are capital interests that stand to benefit from privatization and austerity of the public health system.

DSA International Committee supports the New Democratic Party’s bill C-213, which would guarantee lifesaving pharmaceuticals establishing a public pharmacare. As we fight for Medicare for All in our own country, we applaud the NDP for taking up the mantle to create a more equitable system. We encourage DSA chapters to publicly support this bill, to educate themselves on the struggle for public Canadian healthcare, and to show solidarity with our northern neighbors.