Yes, I have some thoughts on that.
I want to acknowledge the work that the many organizations in Quebec have done in publicizing the need for a universal program that takes the current system in Quebec and moves it forward into a stronger, more robust program. I also want to acknowledge that there are deficiencies within the Quebec program that cannot be allowed to remain and that the Hoskins report, the 2019 advisory council report on pharmacare, is really the pathway. It is an excellent report that has been endorsed by all organizations in every province. Many organizations have, and medical professionals have also, even including former ministers of health. Liberal Party ministers of health have advocated for this program. In fact, the plan put forward came from this government itself.
We are glad and relieved that the NDP, through this agreement, have breathed new life into pharmacare. We want to see $3.5 billion put into getting essential medicines covered, and we believe that this money put forward for the provinces and territories will help overcome resistance in those provinces to play ball and to move forward on pharmacare. It may be part of a larger discussion in terms of other programs or other increases through the Canada health transfer. I don't know what that might look like. We have talked about a new grand bargain in terms of increased funding on the CHT for the provinces and territories in return for co-operating on these provincial programs, especially pharmacare.
However, $3.5 billion is the number that Hoskins put forward for initial essential medicines, and we would go with that.