WINNIPEG—The Manitoba Liberals are promising to fight for a national pharmacare program if they form government after Tuesday’s election.

Leader Dougald Lamont says Ottawa would shoulder the burden of costs and the Liberals would work with any federal government to bring it in.

He says there needs to be national leadership to make it happen, but provincial partners are required to make it work.

Lamont says it’s important that universal drug coverage is part of medicare.

The Liberals estimate a national drug plan would save Manitobans more than $121 million each year and the average family about $350.

Lamont, who suggests Brian Pallister would not buy in to federal pharmacare, is calling on the Progressive Conservative leader to make his intentions clear.

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