The Impact of the 2025 Canadian Federal Election on Public Health Care
The results of Canada’s 2025 federal election are expected to have profound consequences for the country’s public health care system. Three main developments stand out: Mark Carney’s lack of political experience leave us with questions on his stances on public health care, the threat posed by a strengthened Conservative opposition led by Pierre Poilievre, and the significant loss of the New Democratic Party (NDP), historically the strongest champion of public health care.
Watch the Canadian Health Coalition’s Federal Election Post Mortem
Find the Parties platforms on Health Care Here.
1. The Liberal Party Wins the Election: Questions Arise About the Future of Public Health Care
As new Prime Minister Mark Carney begins his tenure, public health care advocates are watching closely to see whether his policies will uphold and strengthen Canada’s universal health care system — or potentially put it under strain.
Carney has voiced strong support for public health care, stating, “In America, health care is a business. In Canada, it is a human right.” This message has struck a chord with many who value a robust, publicly funded system.
At the same time, some of Carney’s comments — or lack of clarity — have raised concerns. When asked whether he would enforce the Canada Health Act in response to provinces like Alberta expanding private health care delivery, he offered only a a vague pledge to “work with provinces”.His pledges to cap the size of the public service and prioritize a balanced federal budget have also prompted debate, with critics warning that such measures could lead to increased outsourcing and a larger role for private providers in delivering health services.
For now, Carney’s approach to health care remains largely undefined. How he navigates the balance between public principles and fiscal priorities will be a key test of his leadership — and a defining issue for many Canadians.
2. The Conservative Party Gains seats: Increasing Parliamentary Power to Advance an Anti–Public Health Care Agenda
The 2025 election significantly strengthened Pierre Poilievre’s position, with the Conservatives gaining seats and emerging as a much more influential force in Parliament. This increased political clout gives Poilievre greater leverage to pursue his long-standing goal of shrinking the public sector — including Canada’s public health care system.
While the Conservatives avoided explicitly campaigning on health care cuts or privatization, investigations by The Breach and The Tyee have revealed that Poilievre’s team — supported by a network of tech CEOs and corporate elites — has been lobbying for a Canadian version of Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). The plan outlines a rapid wave of reforms involving privatization, deregulation, and major reductions to public spending (Breach Media, 2025). With their expanded presence in Parliament, the Conservatives are now well positioned to advance this agenda and accelerate the erosion of public health care.
3. The Collapse of the New Democratic Party: A Major Loss for Public Health Care Advocacy
The election also marked a serious setback for defenders of universal public health care: the NDP lost official party status.
This loss is particularly significant because the NDP, even with limited parliamentary strength, has historically been the party most committed to expanding public health care. Over the past few years, the NDP was instrumental in pushing the minority Liberal government to introduce major expansions, including the federal dental care plan and preliminary steps toward a universal pharmacare program.
Their 2025 platform included strong commitments: delivering full pharmacare within four years, banning U.S. corporations from buying Canadian health-care businesses, enforcing the Canada Health Act against provincial privatization, and hiring 35,000 new nurses. They also proposed making health care transfers conditional on provinces maintaining adequate staffing and patient-care standards.
With the NDP’s weakened presence, there will be significantly less parliamentary pressure to defend public health care against either privatization by stealth (under the Liberals) or open assault (from the Conservatives).
Defending Canada’s health care system in the years ahead will require vigilant public advocacy, pressure on all political leaders, and a renewed effort to rebuild strong political movements committed to health care as a human right.