Ted McMeekin

May 17, 2010

The slick and expensive $4 million American style attacks funded largely by big corporate Pharmacies do a disservice to Ontarians. They hide the facts and distort the truth about government efforts at drug price reform.

In 2009, 26 percent of Ontarians in possession of a written prescriptive from their doctor chose NOT to have it filled because they couldn’t afford it. I simply can’t live with that.

If people are forced to choose between putting food on the table or purchasing needed drugs they cannot afford, I'm going to side with my constituents every time. That’s my job and it’s a job I’m proud to do.

Ontario is one of the largest bulk purchasers of prescription drugs in the world, yet we pay many times more than people in other countries. Your government wants to ensure fair drug prices by lowering the cost of generic drugs by half or even more.

 One reason drug costs are so high is because of so-called 'professional allowances' - a $750 million per year payout by the drug companies directly to those pharmacists who agree to stock their drug products.

To be clear: these payments from generic drug manufacturers have been the subject of widespread, unaccountable and inappropriate practices. Among the abuses uncovered to date.

* Based on the documentation provided by pharmacists, 70 percent of these allowances have been diverted from intended patient care and used to increase the bottom line of pharmacy owners.

* In 2009, 750 individual pharmacists either failed to disclose any documentation related to these payments or filed incomplete documentation.

* Of over 200 on-site inspections conducted at Ontario pharmacies in the last two years, there were violations in every single one of them. Common violations included falsified documentation, abuse of the Ontario Drug Benefit Program guidelines and unnecessary dispensing practices intended to boost compensation from the province.

* Investigators have identified that some pharmacies and wholesalers have been involved in a 're-sale scheme' created to secure the payment of professional allowances multiple times for the same product.

Frankly, reform of this regime is not simply a policy option - it is an obligation in the interest of sound administration and basic fairness to taxpayers and patients. Reform of this system must and shall occur. Abuses will be ended and existing loopholes closed.

Your government wants to lower drug costs, enhance transparency, compensate pharmacists for actual services provided and provide additional financial support for pharmacies in rural and under-serviced areas. The government’s proposed changes are supported by CARP, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Ontario Nursing Association and the Ontario Federation of Labour along with numerous health and other associations.

I continue to urge the pharmacists and the government to find a way back into discussion. It's clear that two parties in dispute can never shake hands with a clenched fist. Serious issues are best discussed together. It’s time for everyone to get back to the discussion table.

HAMILTON, Ontario,


April 20, 2010 — 


Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Peter George, President of McMaster University, today celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of McMaster University’s Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation. The project received $16.5 million in federal and provincial funding through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and Ontario’s 2009 Budget.

 

Funding will allow McMaster to build two new facilities aimed at discovering innovative ways to help people devastated by spinal cord injuries or cancer: the Centre for Spinal Cord Injury Education, Research and Rehabilitation and the Centre for Cancer Education, Research and Rehabilitation.  Students will work alongside world-class scientists tackling neuro-restorative and cancer care, and will acquire a unique set of skills in patient care and rehabilitation. McMaster University’s expansion will include 14,000 square feet for laboratories, teaching space and offices.

 

In total, the governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $1.5 billion in 49 projects at Ontario’s colleges and universities, through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) and the Ontario 2009 Budget. 

 

"By renewing the facilities at McMaster University, researchers in our community will have the tools they need to be global leaders in their fields and pursue world-class excellence,” said Member of Parliament David Sweet, “It is one way that our government is working to strengthen Canada’s capacity to innovate and translate research into meaningful benefits for all Canadians.”

 

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a two-year, $2 billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions is part of the $12 billion in new infrastructure investment allocated under Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The program is providing real economic stimulus and employment by creating local jobs for engineers, architects, trades people and technicians. It is also helping to generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s research and educational facilities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

 

“I am very pleased to see the expansion and creation of this important research and teaching centre at one of Canada’s top universities,” said Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “McMaster is the ideal place for this project and I look forward to the future it promises.”

 

The Government of Ontario, in its 2009 budget – Confronting the Challenge:  Building Ontario’s Economic Future, committed to investing in infrastructure and designated $780 million to colleges and universities to modernize facilities and boost long-term research and skills training capacity over the next two years.

 

“The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a wonderful example of how we can leverage partnerships between the federal and provincial governments to deliver top quality programs and facilities to our students and our community,” says Peter George, President of McMaster University. “This generous support ensures we can maximize our role in educating tomorrow’s leaders and develop the research which will keep Canada competitive on a global scale.” 

   

For more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, including program criteria, application instructions and a list of the approved projects to date, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.

 

For information about how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province, please visit www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/infrastructure.

 

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For further information (media only), please contact:

 

Media Relations Industry Canada 613-943-2502	Lynn Meahan Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Tony Clement Minister of Industry 613-995-9001
Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities: Annette Phillips Minister's Office 416-326-5748 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	McMaster University Contact: Michelle Donovan Public Relations Manager, Broadcast Media (905) 525-9140, ext. 22869 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it