Quebec eyes compensation if Ottawa sets up drug plan, Couillard says

Premier Philippe Couillard warned Ottawa that the Quebec government will seek compensation if the federal government establishes a national drug plan.

Nothing has been done yet, but the Trudeau government has signalled its intention to build on the Quebec model to create a panCanadian plan. As a first step, the federal budget tabled on Tuesday provided for the creation of an advisory council to look into the matter.

Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor would not venture to say Tuesday what its impact would mean for Quebec. But a day after the budget was tabled, Couillard said his government would monitor it closely.

“If one day the rest of Canada wants to have a drug plan like we have, which covers everyone, that’s when we’ll say: ‘Well, listen, compensate us for the effort that we’ve been making since the beginning,’ ” the premier told the media. “It is important to realize that Quebec has been doing so for many years.”

When it comes to its health jurisdiction, Quebec “is very keen” and “access to medicine is part of the health system,” Couillard said. Quebec’s choice is expensive, but “it’s worth it,” he said.

The Quebec government wants to “keep the choice — important, because it has a major impact on public finances in Quebec — for drugs that are registered or not,” he said.

Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitão’s office would not speculate Wednesday on any compensation amount. “Given the fact that the federal government only announced the intention to study the issue, it is difficult and very premature to talk about numbers at this time,” his press attaché, Audrey Cloutier, said in an email.

Presse Canadienne