Government House leader Karina Gould warned Tuesday the Liberals are unlikely to get a pharmacare bill passed by the end of the year, despite their promise to do so in an agreement with the NDP.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檙e going to get it passed by the end of this year, but we鈥檒l definitely keep working,鈥� Gould said on Parliament Hill.

The two parties are still hammering out the details of a bill and it鈥檚 a 鈥減roductive鈥� conversation, she added.

In the end, she said, 鈥淚鈥檓 quite confident that we鈥檒l land it.鈥�

The supply-and-confidence deal, in which the New Democrats are supporting the Liberals in key House of Commons votes, included a commitment to pass a Canada Pharmacare Act by the end of 2023.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on his way into question period today that the government is 鈥渞eady to go鈥� on putting forward legislation.

But he said the government wants to make it happen in concert with the NDP.

鈥淲e鈥檙e open to talking with them to try and make sure that it鈥檚 as ambitious as we can do, in the right way,鈥� he said.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released a fall economic statement last week that introduced new guardrails for the size of federal deficits going forward, with little room for new spending until 2027 at the earliest.

Asked whether the government can afford a universal pharmacare program, Trudeau said the Liberals have already taken steps to lower drug prices in the country and 鈥渨e will continue to work in responsible ways 鈥� to make sure that Canadians can afford to stay healthy.鈥�

Peter Julian, the NDP House leader, said the New Democrats are still hoping that a pharmacare bill can be introduced, if not passed, before the House rises in mid-December.

鈥淏ut the reality is that the government needs more time,鈥� he said.

He called the discussions with the Liberals 鈥渙ngoing and constructive.鈥�

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