That is right, two years ago. Why is that? We have union movements. We have others who are saying, “We want to see a national pharmacare.”
For the first time, and I have been around as a parliamentarian for 30 years, it is an issue that has really come to the top. This is because, for the first time in many years, probably going back to the late 1960s, we have a Prime Minister, a Minister of Health and, I believe, a majority of current members in this chamber who understand and value what a national pharmacare program could do for the citizens of Canada.
I believe that is the reason it is being debated today. There is some very tangible movement towards it. We do not need to go back to 1996, as I just did, or back to 1997, making reference to what Liberals were saying back then. We should be talking about today. We should be talking about what Canadians want for us to do, and that is to be working together, putting partisan politics aside and realizing that when we do have something worthwhile pursuing, parties would in fact come together.
I am very pleased. From what I understand, New Democrats, Greens and the Liberals understand the benefits of a national pharmacare program. The Bloc is sympathetic to it, but might disagree in terms of the Province of Quebec playing an important role in a future national program.
They could play a leadership role, but I think it is important that we have one strong national program, and that is what we should be pursuing.