In the News

Opposition parties warn new natural health product regulations could drive up costs

Don Davies, NDP MP for Vancouver Kingsway, told CBC News he fears Health Canada is "missing the mark."

"I'm a little bit concerned that Health Canada is not putting the focus where they should, which is on greater inspection and enforcement of the regulations that they have, because this is a really well-regulated industry," he said.

New health minister says pharmacare legislation is coming this fall

"It is crucial that the legislation be clear that the system is universal, comprehensive and entirely public, so no one will have to pay out of pocket for their medication," Davies said in a media statement.

"Only a single-payer pharmacare system will achieve the savings, efficiencies and fairness that is the hallmark of Canadian medicare. Anything less will be unacceptable to Canadians and the NDP."

Public health experts, NDP MP Davies echo medical journal’s call for inquiry into Canada’s pandemic response

A series of articles in a leading medical journal calling for a national public inquiry into Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic are “sobering” and should serve as “a catalyst” for the Liberal government to take that step, says NDP health critic Don Davies.

“We have one of the most respected, oldest medical journals in the world clearly calling for an independent national inquiry in Canada, which the NDP has been calling for—for a significant amount of time,” said Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.).

Liberals looking for input on planned law to improve safety in long-term care

The office of Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos would not say when the government plans to table the legislation, but it could be as early as this fall. 

The NDP said the Liberals have been slow to act. Health critic Don Davies said for-profit care homes had among the worst outcomes in the country.

"This is because they were more concerned with profit margins than the quality-of-care seniors received or the working conditions of their employees," Davies said in a written statement. 

NDP calls for federal leadership to defend public health care ahead of premiers’ meeting

OTTAWA — As the nation’s premiers gather in Winnipeg, NDP Health Critic Don Davies is calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to defend Canada’s public health care system against an increasing number of Conservative premiers pushing private, for-profit delivery which would increase wait times, deepen staff shortages and force Canadians to pay out of pocket for care.

NDP: Profit should never be the bottom line when it comes to seniors in care

NDP Health Critic Don Davies made the following statement regarding reports that long-term care homes in Ontario with concerning care records are getting even more tax dollars from the government:

“Canadians care deeply about our seniors. That’s why they are rightly troubled when they hear that public money is going to long-term care homes who had some of the worst records of neglect during the pandemic. Many of these facilities are run by for-profit, investor-focused corporations who cut costs at the expense of care that vulnerable seniors need.

NDP MPs trying to help students 'create their Canada'

NDP MPs Don Davies and Heather McPherson organized a ‘Create Your Canada’ contest in their respective ridings, where students can propose ideas that are tabled in the House of Commons as private member’s bills.

NDP attempts to prod Liberals into action on pharmacare by tabling its own bill

OTTAWA - 

No longer content to wait for the Liberals to make good on their promise, the New Democrats tabled their own pharmacare legislation in the House of Commons Tuesday.

The NDP and Liberals struck a confidence-and-supply agreement last year that would see the NDP support the government on key votes to hold an election off until 2025 in exchange for progress on NDP priorities.

Jagmeet Singh says the Liberals must pass pharmacare legislation this year — but health minister makes no promises

The minister has defended his actions, stating he does not provide direction to the board but does participate in consultations before new guidelines for drug prices are issued. On Tuesday, Duclos’s office said it was the minister’s “duty to work with all actors, from patients and … the industry, to make sure Canadians have access to the medication and vaccines they need.”

Even so, there’s “no doubt that Minister Duclos and the Liberal government are being pressured by other forces,” Davies said.

“What we want to do is add some pressure on the other side of this. Do I trust them? Yes. And I hope that they will do the right thing.”

Drug-price regulator sought meetings with health minister to discuss reforms, documents show

The letter is at the heart of an investigation by the health committee, launched earlier this year at the request of NDP MP Don Davies, who alleged Mr. Duclos interfered with the independence of the drug regulator when he asked Prof. Bourassa Forcier to suspend the consultation.

Mr. Duclos has denied acting inappropriately, and his office declined to comment on the newly released documents when asked by The Globe and Mail.