Hits and misses of Liberal, NDP pact
Toronto Star|September 05, 2024
Original supply and confidence deal laid out 24 pledges across seven policy pillars
RAISA PATEL AND ALEX BALLINGALL
Hits and misses of Liberal, NDP pact

The NDP's Jagmeet Singh has pulled the plug on his governing pact with Justin Trudeau, which saw the New Democrats support the minority Liberals in exchange for progress on a number of shared priorities.

The original deal - which morphed over the two-and-a-half years of its lifespan to include other commitments and deadlines - laid out 24 pledges spread across seven policy pillars.

Here's what got done - and what didn't.

Health care

The centrepiece of the agreement was a pair of policy goals long-desired by the New Democrats: launching a new dental coverage program and passing legislation that would lay the groundwork for implementing a universal, national pharmacare program.

The first of those promises came to life in the form of a temporary dental benefit for children from eligible low-income families in 2022.

That benefit has now been replaced with the Canadian Dental Care Plan, a dental insurance program that covers, partially or in full, a range of services for eligible seniors, youth under the age of 18 and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit. More than two million Canadians have enrolled in the plan with nearly 450,000 of them receiving services. All other eligible Canadians can apply for the program starting next year.

After negotiations stalled and deadlines were rehashed earlier this year, both parties also made progress on their drug coverage promises. Ottawa introduced the Canada Pharmacare Act in February, which outlined a plan to first cover diabetes and birth control drugs and devices, and laid out a framework for wider governmentpaid drug coverage. The bill, which has yet to clear the Senate, also promises (as required by the deal) to develop a national formulary of essential drugs and establish a bulk purchasing plan.

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