Canadians went to the polls in 2025 deeply anxious about a healthcare system in crisis. Plagued by overcrowded emergency rooms and a severe shortage of family doctors, voters were looking for a savior. Carney promised to “build a stronger Canadian health care system,” raising expectations of massive, transformative federal investment. Progressive voters also widely expected the realization of a comprehensive universal pharmacare program. The unveiling of Budget 2025, however, was a masterclass in dashed hopes.
Rather than the historic expansion that was promised, Budget 2025 implemented quiet austerity measures. Advocacy groups, including the Health Coalition, sharply criticized the government for embedding “deepening cuts” to federal health-related agencies. Furthermore, the budget remained entirely silent on the long-term funding frameworks required to make universal pharmacare a reality. The government chose to prioritize industrial subsidies and defense spending, leaving provincial health systems to drown under the weight of ongoing crises.