March 3, 2025
Jagmeet Singh
Leader of the Federal New Democratic Party (NDP)
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Re: Implementation of Dental Care and Pharmacare Programs
Dear Mr. Singh,
On behalf of the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU), the largest association of independent labour unions in the country, I am writing to you with great urgency and hope. The creation of a universal dental care and pharmacare program is one of the most transformative and overdue social policies in Canada’s history. Especially in an era of multi-billion dollar tariffs and trade wars, Canadians need these programs now more than ever.
Although the 2025 federal election must be held no later than October 20, that is still plenty of time for the Senate to pass the necessary legislation that would allow both programs to be fully implemented. Yet because the 2025 Federal Budget is expected in mid-April, we are calling on you to temporarily resurrect the confidence-and-supply agreement with the federal Liberals and secure agreements with the provinces and territories to ensure these promises are fully realized.
Your agreement with the federal Liberal government was a historic step forward in improving the lives of millions of Canadians. It provided a stable governance arrangement that enabled the introduction of dental care coverage for children under 12, with a vision to expand this program to all qualifying Canadians. Likewise, the promise of pharmacare is a long-standing demand of progressive voices, unions, healthcare advocates, and working families across this country.
Yet, without with Senate passing the necessary legislation and provincial cooperation, these crucial social programs risk being delayed—or worse, left incomplete. The clock is ticking.
As you are well aware, Canada remains one of the only industrialized nations with universal healthcare that does not provide universal pharmacare. Millions of Canadians must make impossible choices between paying rent, buying groceries, or filling a necessary prescription. The cost of prescription drugs is a direct cause of financial distress and worsening health outcomes for the most vulnerable, disproportionately affecting seniors, low-income workers, and marginalized communities. With a national pharmacare program, we can end this injustice and ensure that no Canadian is denied medication due to financial constraints.
Similarly, the implementation of a comprehensive, universal dental care program is a moral and economic imperative. Oral health is not a luxury—it is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Dental care is healthcare, yet millions of Canadians, particularly those without employer-provided benefits, go without necessary treatment due to high costs.
This leads to preventable emergency room visits, lost productivity, and worsened chronic conditions. Expanding dental care coverage is not just compassionate policy. It is sound economic policy that will reduce healthcare expenditures in the long run.
The confidence-and-supply agreement was a critical mechanism in delivering the first phase of both programs, and it should now be used to bring the provinces on board and ensure the Senate passes the necessary legislation to fully implement both dental and pharmacare programs. Political stability is required to achieve this, so let us not hesitate to reaffirm our commitment to these progressive policies. It would be unconscionable to allow partisan politics, procedural delays, or electioneering to derail what has already been promised to Canadians.
Moreover, let us not forget the broader context: rising inequality, the affordability crisis, and the strain on public services. As wages stagnate and costs of living rise, universal social programs like pharmacare and dental care are among the most effective tools to combat economic insecurity. Canada’s unions, including affiliates of the CCU, have fought tirelessly for these policies for decades, and we will not stand by if these commitments are jeopardized.
The success of Canadian Medicare itself was not inevitable—it was the result of political courage, activism, and the willingness of progressive forces, including the NDP and Liberal Party, to work together in the public interest. Today, we stand at a similar crossroads. You have the power to ensure that these programs become permanent fixtures of our healthcare system and leave a lasting legacy of justice and compassion for generations to come.
With Canada facing a US-led trade war, we urge you to recommit to the confidence-and-supply agreement with the federal Liberals, pass the 2025 Federal Budget, and ensure these historic policies are not only passed but fully implemented. The Confederation of Canadian Unions, along with millions of working Canadians, will hold you accountable to these commitments, and we stand ready to support you in this critical endeavor.
Canadians deserve nothing less than a healthcare system that treats medication and dental care as fundamental rights, not privileges based on wealth. Now is the time to finish the job and make history.
Sincerely,
Gregory Ball
President, Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)
president@ccu-csc.ca
www.ccu-csc.ca
CC: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Federal Minister of Health Mark Holland
Government Representative in the Senate, Senator Marc Gold, P.C.
