AccessBC

Press Release - October 10, 2024
 

Reproductive Justice Advocates Celebrate Bill C-64 Clearing the Senate

 

On October 10, 2024, Bill C-64 – An Act respecting pharmacare – passed third reading in the Senate and will shortly be receiving royal assent. The AccessBC Campaign applauds this important step towards free and universal prescription contraception coverage for all Canadians. 

 

The passage of Bill C-64 represents a groundbreaking moment for healthcare in Canada. The national pharmacare plan it creates will make diabetes medication and prescription contraception free across Canada. The next step in its implementation requires provincial and territorial governments to sign agreements with the federal government. 

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On September 12, 2024, British Columbia became the first Canadian province to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the federal government. As a result, BC will build on its existing free contraception policy, adding coverage for diabetes medication and rolling the savings from federal pharmacare on contraception coverage into coverage of hormone replacement therapy as treatment for symptoms of menopause.

 

The AccessBC Campaign applauds the government of British Columbia for its continued leadership on sexual and reproductive healthcare, and calls on all provincial and territorial governments to follow BC’s lead and sign memoranda of understanding with the federal government to help make federal pharmacare a reality across Canada. 

 

“The day that BC made contraception free, I got messages from people all over the province. Medical practitioners were excited about how this would improve care for their patients, and friends were thrilled that they could finally afford an IUD,” said Devon Black, AccessBC Campaign national liaison and co-founder. “Making contraception free for everyone is a commitment to reproductive rights, to sexual health and wellbeing, and to gender equality. I’m thrilled that the passage of Bill C-64 will make access to contraception possible for all Canadians, and I hope that other provincial and territorial governments will commit to implementing pharmacare agreements as soon as possible.”

 

“Every month that we delay the implementation of this federal pharmacare legislation is another month where Canadians will face unnecessary barriers when trying to access life-saving and life-changing medicine,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, AccessBC Campaign Chair and co-founder. “Free prescription contraception improves health outcomes, makes life more affordable, reduces gender inequality, and saves governments money. We need to see this rapidly rolled out across the country. No Canadian should have to decide between reproductive autonomy and paying for groceries.” 

 

“As the first step towards comprehensive universal pharmacare, Bill C-64 is breaking new ground,” said Black. “Making contraception and diabetes medication free for all Canadians shows what can be accomplished with a government that is fully committed to a universal, single-payer healthcare system.We look forward to federal and provincial governments building on this foundation, expanding the scope of coverage, and working towards a comprehensive national pharmacare system.”