Photo: World Economic Forum.
March 10, 2025
The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2
Re: Implementation of Dental Care and Pharmacare Programs
Dear Prime Minister-Designate Carney,
On behalf of the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU), the largest association of independent labour unions in the country, I want to congratulate you on your victory in the 2025 Liberal Party leadership race, and becoming the 24th Prime Minister of Canada. Your decades of political experience and leadership, as a highly successful central bank manager during a very difficult time, will prove to be invaluable as Canada fights Trump’s tariffs and trade wars.
As you assume office, we urge you to prioritize the full implementation of the universal pharmacare and dental care programs promised by your Liberal government, by collaborating closely with the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). These are two of the most transformative and overdue social policies in Canada’s history.
Although the 2025 federal election must be held no later than October 20, there is still 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 specifically calling on you to temporarily revive the confidence-and-supply agreement with the federal New Democratic Party and secure arrangements with the provinces and territories to ensure these promises are fully realized.
The federal government’s initial agreement with the New Democratic Party was a historic step forward in improving the lives of millions of Canadians. It provided a stable governance arrangement that enabled the passage of the Pharmacare Act in October 2024, which marked a pivotal step toward improving health equity and affordability in Canada.
This legislation established a framework for a universal, single-payer pharmacare system, initially covering essential medications such as those for diabetes and contraception. The Act also mandates the formation of an expert committee to provide recommendations on the operation and financing of the program.
Similarly, the establishment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has expanded dental care access to millions of uninsured Canadians. This program represents one of Canada’s largest social initiatives, aiming to provide coverage for up to nine million citizens.
Despite these advancements, full implementation of both programs requires further legislative action and cooperation among federal and provincial governments, and the Senate’s role in passing necessary legislation is also crucial to ensure these programs succeed.
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.
Similarly, the implementation of a comprehensive, universal dental care program is a moral and economic imperative. Oral health is not an extravagance. It is fundamental to overall health and well-being, yet millions of Canadians, particularly those without employer-provided benefits, go without necessary treatment due to high costs.
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 and territories on board to achieve their full implementation. 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, electioneering, or corporate lobbying to derail what has already been promised to Canadians.
Let us not forget the larger picture: rising inequality, years of wage stagnation, and the strain on public services. As the cost of living rises, universal social programs like pharmacare and dental care are even more necessary 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 unfulfilled.
The success of Canadian Medicare itself was not inevitable. It was the result of political courage, activism, and the willingness of progressive forces to work together in the public interest. Today, we stand at a similar crossroads.
Prime Minister-Designate Carney: your tenure presents a historic opportunity to solidify Canada’s commitment to universal healthcare. By working closely with the NDP, the Senate, and the provinces and territories, your administration can fully implement pharmacare and dental care programs that will benefit generations to come.
The Confederation of Canadian Unions stands ready to support these initiatives and collaborate in any capacity to achieve these shared goals. We are confident that under your leadership, Canada will continue to progress toward a more equitable and healthier future for all its citizens.
Sincerely,
Gregory Ball
President, Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)
president@ccu-csc.ca
www.ccu-csc.ca
