The problem is that, if the deal were to be ratified, chapters 9 and 28 come into effect. Under chapter 9, the cross-reference is also the WTO's TRIPS Agreements, so it's sort of WTO plus. That means that drug companies would be able to sue for cash settlements on creation, limitation, or revocation of intellectual property rights. So the issue of drug patents is inextricably linked to that. The ability of the federal government to regulate drugs is inextricably linked with that. The ability for investors to sue the government puts much more significant risk on the federal government. It would limit our ability to create a national pharmacare program, which would be the single biggest step that we could take to drug cost containment, improving safety, and improving access all at once. It has a significant limiting effect and increase of risk on the one major thing that Canada's government could do to control drug prices and improve access.
On May 12th, 2016. See this statement in context.