EDMONTON — Speaking at a press conference in Edmonton late last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that new bilateral agreements with remaining provinces and territories would be finalized “as quickly and equitably as possible.” These comments follow months of uncertainty as to the future of national Pharmacare, as result of multiple remarks from the Prime Minister and Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel refusing to commit to the continued implementation of the program—including as recently as last week.

EDMONTON – With the federal Liberal caucus meeting for their pre-session retreat in Edmonton this week, Friends of Medicare is joining the Canadian Health Coalition and allies from Alberta and across Canada for a rally to call on the Federal Government to keep their promise to implement and expand a national Pharmacare plan.

EDMONTON — As Albertans’ anxiety grows over the rising cost of living — including how new tariffs could impact their employment, health benefits, drug costs, and pocketbooks — the federal government is creating uncertainty about whether they intend to fulfill their promise to deliver much-needed relief when it comes to expanding federal dental care coverage, and bringing down drug costs via a national public drug plan.

Every year, November 14 is recognized as World Diabetes Day. This year’s theme is Access to Diabetes Care, a reminder that we have a long way to go to ensure those living with diabetes in Alberta have access to the care they need.

Albertans will remember last year, when the UCP government announced that they would be terminating the Insulin Pump Benefits Program, impacting up to 4,000 Albertans with diabetes. Following massive public outcry from Friends of Medicare, Pump 4 Life, and thousands of grassroots Albertans, the government finally conceded by announcing they were stopping their plans to end the Insulin Pump Benefits Program and instead, struck a working group to consult on diabetes care. No new announcements or improvements to coverage have come since that working group was formed.

EDMONTON — In last week’s Manitoba budget tabled by Progressive Conservative Premier Heather Stefanson, their government announced universal coverage for continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps for people living with diabetes. Both Diabetes Canada and JDRF Canada have called this announcement a huge win for Manitobans living with diabetes.

This morning, the Government of Alberta reversed course on previously announced changes to the Insulin Pump Therapy Program following backlash from Albertans.

In May, the lives of 4,000 Albertans with diabetes and their families were thrown into chaos and uncertainty when the government announced sudden changes to the Insulin Pump Therapy Program. Albertans responded quickly, sending more than twenty thousand letters to their representatives, speaking out against these changes and the destructive impact they would have on their households and communities. Shortly after, the government announced a pause to those changes, and today reversed course completely.

Yesterday, the provincial government announced changes to its insulin pump benefits program, impacting up to 4,000 Albertans with diabetes. Instead, people will have to seek coverage via private workplace insurance plans, or government benefit plans, potentially leaving many Albertans subject to costly co-pays and premiums.

Alberta’s complex patchwork of private and public drug and supplementary health benefit plans has left far too many of us struggling to pay for the medications and treatments we need. An estimated 420 working-aged Canadians with diabetes die each year because they don't have adequate access to their medications.

On April 12, 2012, Premier Alison Redford promised Albertans that if re-elected, her government would ensure that all Albertans who suffer from type 1 diabetes would receive cost-free access to insulin pumps to help them better manage their condition and improve their quality of life. She has still not delivered.