OTTAWA—Billing himself as the antidote to health cuts by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is promising to make a $6-billion “down payment” towards a national pharmacare program and improved access to family doctors and mental health services.Speaking to reporters during a campaign stop in Hamilton Monday, Trudeau said as prime minister he would offer provinces and territories $6 billion to provide better health care in the three areas he marked as Liberal priorities.At the same time, the Liberal leader repeatedly raised the spectre of a recalcitrant Ford blocking federal progress on improved health care. Mentioning the premier’s name upwards of a dozen times, Trudeau criticized the Ontario government for cancelling a short-lived program to cover medications for children and young adults, and suggested Canadians who want better health care should be wary of electing a federal Conservative government led by Andrew Scheer. “In the future the federal government will have to negotiate with the provinces and territories, as has always been the case, to reach new health accords,” Trudeau said. “When that time comes, who do you want at the negotiation table, standing up to Doug Ford: Andrew Scheer, who follows Doug Ford’s lead, or our Liberal team who will fight for you?”Ford’s office did not address Trudeau’s criticism in a statement Monday, and said the province is “focused on continuing to grow the economy, investing in education, health care and infrastructure, and providing Ontarians and their families with the services they rely on.” Trudeau’s promises Monday hinge on participation from the provinces and territories, which have jurisdiction over health care under the Constitution, even if they receive significant federal funding to deliver their services. Over the past two years, the Liberals indicated a willingness to explore national pharmacare to ensure a ...
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