Poilievre promises to keep dental care, pharmacare if elected – National | Globalnews.ca
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says no Canadian would lose their federal dental care or pharmacare coverage under a government led by him.
At a campaign stop Tuesday in Vaughan, Ont., Poilievre was asked whether he would cut these programs — a popular point of attack among his opponents.
Poilievre said a Conservative government would “protect those programs, and no one who has them would lose them.”
The Canadian Dental Care Plan was launched by the Liberal government in 2023 in exchange for the NDP’s support for keeping the government in power in a minority Parliament.
The government announced a major expansion to the program last week on the eve of the election call.
Poilievre also said his government would address the cost and availability of child care by removing bureaucracy to give more flexibility to families — though he didn’t explain how.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said Liberals and Conservatives would make cuts to healthcare to deal with the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canada.
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“Who will fight back when health care or pensions are on the chopping block in Trump’s trade war?” asked Singh in a press release on Tuesday.
“New Democrats will. I’m proud to stand with workers in this Canada who reject Conservative and Liberal cuts. We are the home of workers. We are proud to stand with labour – shoulder to shoulder – fight for a Canada that works for all.”
Liberal Leader Mark Carney said in his acceptance speech on March 9 that a strong economy means strong supports for Canadians, including dental care and pharmacare.
“It’s clear that the value of a strong economy starts with the workers who have good, well-paying jobs today and who have a better future for them and for today’s youth,” he said in that speech.
“But when we’re fighting for a strong economy, we’re fighting for good Canadian health care for everyone. We are fighting for strong support for our seniors who built this country. We are fighting for child care for young families. We are fighting for dental care and pharmacare for everyone who needs it.”
With files from Global News
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