C-64Pharmacare Act
An Act respecting pharmacare
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 29, 2024
- Status
- Became law on October 10, 2024 · S.C. 2024, c. 24
What it does
Sets rules and powers for the Health Minister to help implement national pharmacare, including payments for some prescription drugs and planning for bulk buying.
What it does
- Sets out principles the Health Minister must consider when working toward national universal pharmacare.
- Gives the minister power to make payments, in some cases, for coverage of certain prescription drugs and related products.
- Requires the minister to prepare a list to help develop a national formulary, which is a national list of covered drugs.
- Requires the minister to develop a national bulk purchasing strategy for prescription drugs and related products.
- Requires the minister to publish a pan-Canadian strategy on the appropriate use of prescription drugs and related products.
- Creates a committee of experts to make recommendations.
Who it affects
- People who use prescription drugs
- People who need related products
- The federal Health Minister
- Experts on the committee
Background
The bill is about working toward the implementation of national universal pharmacare. It was introduced on 29 February 2024 and given first reading in the House of Commons.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare
Vote 794,
Passed
165 yeato145 nay · 10 paired
Party breakdown for vote 794 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 143 0 13 Conservative Nay 0 114 4 Bloc Nay 0 30 2 NDP Yea 20 0 4 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Nay 0 1 2 Total 165 145 Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare
Vote 792,
Passed
169 yeato132 nay · 8 paired
Party breakdown for vote 792 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 147 0 9 Conservative Nay 0 103 15 Bloc Nay 0 28 4 NDP Yea 22 0 2 Green Did not vote 0 0 2 Independent Nay 0 1 2 Total 169 132 Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare (report stage amendment)
Vote 791,
Failed
130 yeato169 nay · 8 paired
Party breakdown for vote 791 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 146 10 Conservative Yea 102 0 16 Bloc Yea 27 0 5 NDP Nay 0 22 2 Green Nay 0 1 1 Independent Yea 1 0 2 Total 130 169 Party breakdown for vote 753 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 151 0 5 Conservative Nay 0 115 3 Bloc Nay 0 31 1 NDP Yea 23 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 177 148 2nd reading of Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare (reasoned amendment)
Vote 752,
Failed
151 yeato176 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 752 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 150 6 Conservative Yea 118 0 0 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Nay 0 23 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Yea1 broke ranks 2 1 0 Total 151 176 Party breakdown for vote 751 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 153 0 3 Conservative Nay 0 116 2 Bloc Nay 0 29 3 NDP Yea 24 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 180 147
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalMark Holland· April 16, 2024
“I want to start by extending gratitude to the member for Vancouver Kingsway for his extraordinary work throughout this process. It was a long, hard discussion to find a place of meeting, but it is an example of what is possible when we, in this chamber, focus on getting things done and focus on working together, rather than focusing on what divides us.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeStephen Ellis· April 16, 2024
“I did have an opportunity to mention this bill, and I would like to expand upon that. The bill would create another government agency, which is exactly what Canadians would like to have, more bureaucracy and more gatekeeping.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLuc Thériault· April 16, 2024
“The bill provides for a list to be prepared. Earlier I asked the minister if he knew the list of drugs covered in Quebec, but he did not wish to answer my question.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPPeter Julian· April 16, 2024
“To begin, I will respond to my colleagues from the Bloc Québécois, because they do not seem to have read or listened to the Quebeckers who support this bill.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.