Health issues dominated the federal campaign trail Friday with the Liberals stressing the importance of vaccination against COVID-19, a Conservative pledge to enhance benefits for seriously ill workers and a prescription for universal pharmacare from the NDP.
During a stop in Mississauga, Ont., Justin Trudeau said a re-elected Liberal government would procure enough vaccines to ensure all Canadians have access to free COVID-19 booster shots and any needed second-generation vaccines.
Trudeau also promised a $1-billion fund to assist provinces and territories that usher in a requirement for proof-of-vaccine credentials for non-essential businesses, such as restaurants and gyms, as well as public spaces.
British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec are moving ahead with so-called vaccine passports, and Trudeau said he hoped Doug Ford would follow, saying it was time for Ontario害羞草研究所檚 Progressive Conservative premier to listen to public health officials.
害羞草研究所淎 vaccine mandate for non-essential businesses is a good idea,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said during his appearance at a restaurant. 害羞草研究所淚t keeps people safe. It encourages everyone to do the right thing. It keeps our businesses open and it keeps our economy rebuilding.害羞草研究所�
Visiting Thunder Bay, Ont., NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the federal government to issue a national vaccine credential.
害羞草研究所淲ouldn害羞草研究所檛 it be easier to just have one central document that we get from the federal government and we can use in any province we travel to?害羞草研究所� Singh said. 害羞草研究所淚t would just make life easier.害羞草研究所�
Protesters who oppose masks, vaccines and lockdown measures to fight COVID-19 have dogged the Liberal leader on the campaign trail.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a choice that they are expressing loudly and clearly,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said Friday.
害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 not just a choice that they害羞草研究所檙e making for themselves. It害羞草研究所檚 a choice they害羞草研究所檙e imposing on others. We only finish with this pandemic if everyone steps up, not just for themselves, but for each other.害羞草研究所�
However, Trudeau did not provide a direct answer when asked if he had special permission for more than the provincial limit of 25 people to crowd into the restaurant for his announcement.
In Corner Brook, N.L., Conservative Leader Erin O害羞草研究所橳oole said he would increase employment insurance benefits for ailing workers to 52 weeks from 26, a move that could help people fight life-threatening diseases like cancer.
害羞草研究所淐anadian workers should know we have their backs if they become seriously ill,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橳oole said.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sure that we have all known someone, a friend, a relative who has battled cancer. We all know how devastating it is. So, we can all imagine if, on top of all that, you also had to worry that your EI benefits were running out, and that you might not be able to put food on the table for your family.害羞草研究所�
Singh pledged Friday to begin working with provinces immediately to deliver a single-payer, public pharmacare program for all Canadians.
The New Democrats say millions can害羞草研究所檛 afford to take the medications they need and must skip doses, cut their pills in half, or even go without them.
害羞草研究所淲e know it doesn害羞草研究所檛 have to be this way,害羞草研究所� Singh said. 害羞草研究所淲e know that we can actually work together to solve this problem.害羞草研究所�
The NDP says negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies would help make prescription drugs free, saving an average family $550 a year.
Asked how he would get countrywide buy-in for the plan, Singh said it would save money not just for people, but also for the provinces.
害羞草研究所擩im Bronskill, The Canadian Press
