Cecilie_Arcurs via Getty Images Shot of shelves stocked with various medicinal products in a pharmacy

Ontario has just announced that they will offer a publicly funded pharmacare system for children and youth in Ontario. This is a small step in the right direction, one that is arguably most important for its symbolism in a national debate. Why just a small step? Because Ontario is adding universal, comprehensive pharmacare coverage to the age group that uses medicines least often. Many working-age Ontarians, who are far more likely to require medicines than children, will still be uninsured. Why symbolic? Ontario's new pharmacare program signals that government is taking responsibility for this component of health care, integrating it with medical and hospital care. This is as it should be. Several national commissions on Canada's health care system have recommended adding prescription drugs to our publicly funded universal medicare system. No federal government has ever acted on those recommendations. Not yet, anyhow. By creating 'pharmacare-junior,' Premier Wynne and Minister Hoskins are in essence calling on the federal government to help finish the job and create a pharmacare program for all Canadians of all ages. Here are four reasons why Canada needs a universal, public pharmacare program -- and what Canadians can do to make it happen now.