Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Pharmacies step up fight with McGuinty by targeting Liberal MPPs

From the Globe and Mail:
Ontario’s pharmacies are escalating their fight against the Liberal government by aggressively targeting the ridings of 25 MPPs.

For the most part, they are MPPs who are expected to face tight contests in the next provincial election – including several ministers. The aim, according to a source close to the pharmacies’ campaign, is to sow dissent among Dalton McGuinty’s caucus members.

If they’re successful, the pharmacies hope the government will feel compelled to soften its plan to reduce prescription costs by eliminating “professional allowances” – the large sums paid by generic manufacturers to stores in return for selling their products.

The drugstores are clearly sparing no expense.

On Friday, a busload of about 50 pharmacy students departed Queen’s Park, aiming to make two stops in each of the 25 ridings.

Three separate flyers are being sent to every household in each of the constituencies – a total of about three million mailings. Each mentions the local MPP by name, charging that his or her “prescription for your family” is “$750-million in cuts to frontline health care.” ...more

No comments: