Hoskins steps down to head national pharmacare strategy

Health Minister Eric Hoskins has resigned to take become the federal government’s czar overseeing a new national pharmacare program. Hoskins, a doctor who was the key architect of Ontario’s OHIP+ for free prescriptions for youth under 25, announced he was stepping down as minister and MPP of Toronto’s St. Paul’s riding on Monday afternoon, effective immediately. Premier Kathleen Wynne appointed Helena Jaczek as his replacement at Health, and Michael Coteau will take on the her portfolio of Community and Social Services along with his duties and Children and Youth Services Minister and Minister responsible for Anti-Racism. “I am so grateful for the work Eric has done to continue improving Ontario’s world-class health-care system to better support patients and their families,” Wynne said in a statement. “Eric has always been one of the most vocal advocates for our universal health-care system and has played an active role in lowering surgical wait times across Ontario, increasing access to primary care providers, including family doctors, expanding the availability of services for people with mental illnesses and building new hospitals in communities across the province,” the premier said. Hoskins, a Rhodes scholar and former provincial leadership Liberal candidate, said in a statement that “It has been a profound privilege to represent the residents of St. Paul’s, a diverse and vibrant community in the heart of Toronto. I have tried my best to serve them well these past eight years.” His federal appointment was expected to be officially announced in Tuesday’s federal budget.