Tyler has newly been appointed as the Government Relations Lead for the planning and consulting firm Porter O’Brien. Professionally, he is currently registered to lobby for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) in New Brunswick. Beyond this, his advocacy work focuses on fighting against the implementation of the federal pharmacare bill which the provincial government just tabled on February 29, 2024. Campbell, who previously served as the communications director for the provincial government, joined Porter O’Brien in January 2024, marking a notable shift in his career.
The pushback against universal pharmacare is indeed heating up in New Brunswick. Campbell registered as a lobbyist just one week after the introduction of the Pharmacare Act, underscoring the urgency perceived by the insurance sector. As it’s currently written, this act would create a national pharmacare program that guarantees equitable access to prescribed medications for all Canadians. As these efforts became apparent, the CLHIA significantly upped its lobbying efforts in the province. They contend that this program could preemptively undermine current and future health coverage benefits and actuarially favorable revenue streams for private insurers.
Seven active lobbyists are currently registered to represent the CLHIA in New Brunswick, showing a strong presence within the province as well. The association seeks to influence policymakers, emphasizing their position that existing employer-sponsored health benefits should be preserved while any new government coverage should target those without access to medications. Campbell’s registration was first reported by Nikolas Barry-Shaw, a lead pharmacare campaigner at the Council of Canadians.
Barry-Shaw’s main concern was corporate interests influencing the direction of healthcare policy. To that end, he said companies are fighting universal pharmacare mostly because companies don’t want to lose revenue. Contrary to the prevailing narrative that passing a new, competitive public plan would threaten those who currently have private insurance, he criticized that storyline.
“There are no stories coming out saying, ‘Oh my God, I lost my workplace insurance because the government created this program’… I think it’s completely empty, scaremongering.” – Nikolas Barry-Shaw
The CLHIA remains convinced that a one-size-fits-all approach to pharmacare is misguided. Most troubling of all, it ignores the models of success already operating in nearly half our provinces. Karen Leiva, the AVP of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs for CLHIA took a deeper dive on this topic.
“A one-size-fits-all approach would not account for the robust pharmacare models that already exist in some provinces.” – Karen Leiva
Leiva highlighted that 27 million Canadians depend on medications that they access through employer-sponsored health benefits today. He highlighted the need to defend these hard-won plans from attacks.
“That’s a foundation we must protect.” – Karen Leiva
The association lays down a marker that any new federal coverage cannot replace current services. Rather, it should be focused on getting to the people who don’t have access to their medications today. Leiva explained that protecting private coverage is important even as we grow public plans.
“Preserving these existing plans and ensuring any new government coverage is directed to those who lack access… not duplicating coverage.” – Karen Leiva
The discourse around the new pharmacare program has been focused on which drugs will be covered under the new program. Leiva noted that a couple of provinces have already inked agreements with the feds. Consequently, these provinces may even be reluctant to list some drugs in their pharmacare programs.
“However, in provinces that have signed deals with the Federal government to date, GLP-1 drugs are not covered by pharmacare. As such, insurers will continue to cover these drugs in all provinces and territories, including those with federal pharmacare.” – Karen Leiva
As Campbell’s lobbying efforts play out, the case for pharmacare has started to pick up considerable momentum in New Brunswick. The health insurance industry remains vigilant and engaged. It strong-arms provinces in rejecting a universal pharmacare model and it advocates for policies that protect private insurance options.
