Parties agreed to work together on 7 key policy areas, including health, climate change and affordability
By Link News Desk
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh have struck a deal called “confidence and supply agreement”. Through this deal NDP promises to keep the minority government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power until 2025. In exchange Liberal government has agreed to implement some of the national pharmacare and dental care program wanted by the NDP.
The Liberals will be able to count on NDP support on the budget, budgetary policy and budget implementation bills. The NDP has also promised not to move a vote of non-confidence or vote for a non-confidence motion until the House rises ahead of the next fixed-date election, which would be in 2025.
In exchange, the parties have agreed to a list of priorities to move ahead on, including a dental-care program for low-income Canadians, national pharmacare, extending the rapid housing initiative and phasing out public financing for the fossil fuel sector more quickly.
Under the healthcare agreement the parties agreedlaunching a new dental care program for low-income Canadians. “Would start with under 12-year-olds in 2022, then expand to under 18-year-olds, seniors and persons living with a disability in 2023, then full implementation by 2025. Program would be restricted to families with an income of less than $90,000 annually, with no co-pays for anyone under $70,000 annually in income,” a statement issued by Prime Minister’s office said.
Continuing progress towards a universal national pharmacare program by passing a Canada Pharmacare Act by the end of 2023 and then tasking the National Drug Agency to develop a national formulary of essential medicines and bulk purchasing plan by the end of the agreement.
Also tabling a Safe Long-Term Care Act to ensure that seniors are guaranteed the care they deserve, no matter where they live, is agreed upon.
“The agreement between the Liberals and New Democrats will ensure, among other things, dental care for millions of uninsured Canadians, beginning with children under 12 years-old, a pathway forward for drug medication coverage for all Canadians and help for people struggling to find a home they can afford in the communities where they live and work,” said NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. “We’re pushing the Liberals to do more for people. We won’t let the government off the hook – we will use our power to fight for the help that you and your family need now. And we will keep fighting to make life better.”
The Canadian Health Coalition expressed optimism the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply agreement announced Tuesday could advance public health care significantly for everyone in Canada through a universal national pharmacare program, dental care, more doctors and nurses, improved long-term care, and other investments.
“This agreement has the potential to deliver significant improvements in public health care for patients, families, and frontline workers,” said Pauline Worsfold, RN, chairperson of the Canadian Health Coalition.
The Prime Minister’s Office published a statement on its website outlining the deal. The parties agree to Delivering for Canadians Now: A Supply and Confidence Agreement from March 22, 2022 until when Parliament rises in June of 2025, in order to achieve the following along with healthcare and dental benefits.
Regarding housing initiatives, the parties will work towards extending the Rapid Housing Initiative for another year. They will focus on the Rental Construction Financing Initiative to ensure affordable housing and launch a Housing Accelerator Fund. An Early Learning and Child Care Act will also be introduced to offer affordable childcare opportunities to all Canadian families.
To tackle the climate crisis, the parties have agreed to work towards further reducing the emissions levels significantly by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. They will also work towards developing a plan to reduce public financing of the fuel sector. Development of home energy efficiency programs will be put in place to reduce emissions and increase energy affordability.
The parties will be providing 10 days of paid sick leave for all workers who are federally regulated. Also, a law would be introduced that would prohibit organisations from using replacement workers when workers are on strike or have been locked out.
The parties will be contributing towards Indigenous housing. They will also be bringing a publicly accessible beneficial ownership registry before the end of 2023.
The parties will be bringing in a three-day voting period to “expand the ability for people to vote” and expand election day. People will be able to vote at any place within their Electoral district. Also, the process of mail-in ballots would be improved.
