Big pharmacist
Plus: will Monique make a jump, Yasir and Joel go for round two, Crombie's glitzy fundraiser, Peel's plea, denied but TBD; car crash, more cash for the Gardiner, Ghamari's gone, PA switch and more
THE LEDE
Ontario’s pharmacists will soon be allowed to prescribe drugs for over a dozen new minor maladies — but still: the big question about the price tag of their expanded authority is looming large.
It’s the next phase of a trial that launched in January, with ailments, including pink eye, cold sores and urinary tract infections, treated over the counter.
— What’s known: Sore throat, calluses and corns, mild headaches, shingles and insomnia could soon be treated by pharmacists. They could also diagnose infections like strep throat, order lab tests and administer tetanus and shingles shots.
Pharmacy technicians, meanwhile, will soon be allowed to administer hepatitis, rabies and HPV vaccines, in addition to the influenza shot.
“The work that we are doing right now is on the consultation of the actual items that we are considering — expanding scope of practice,” Jones said. But for her, it’s all about access, making it easier to “connect to care” and shrinking “the burden” amid an acute lack of doctors and nurses.
Meanwhile, she promised an audit of the “MedsCheck” program “to better support patients’ health outcomes and reduce unnecessary service duplication and administrative red tape.”
That’s in response to alleged misuse of the project by corporate pharmacies. Set up to pay pharmacies for reviewing a patient’s prescriptions, corporate pressure is said to have led staff to bill the province for unrequired medication reviews. A survey conducted by the province’s pharmacy regulatory body in March found that pharmacists — a majority who work at Shoppers — reported “pressures” related to the program.
Background: At the time, Ontario’s College of Pharmacists (OCP) retained counsel and said it would explore all “legal options,” including but not limited to: “appointing investigators to investigate any ‘corporate centric’ interference.”
“We cannot stand by silently and allow business practices to interfere with the delivery of safe and effective patient care,” the body added, calling the survey results “deeply troubling.”
Still, on the reported abuse of the program, Jones pushed back: “that’s your opinion,” she told a reporter.
— What’s unknown: A ton. On the cost of the pharmacists’ new power, Jones kept mum.
Asked about the charge to the patient — and whether it’ll come with an increased price tag for the province, Jones said she would “not cover fees,” emphasizing that the current consultation “does not include a discussion or a conversation about fees.”
Jones’ spokesperson, however, said “the cost for pharmacist consultation is less than that of a physician consultation” and would result in savings “that can be invested” in the expansion of primary care.
But some don’t buy it. “This is Doug Ford and Sylvia Jones trying to change the channel on the 2.5 million people in Ontario without access to primary care,” Liberal health critic Adil Shamji charged. “Knowing Ford, somehow Shoppers Drug Mart is going to benefit more than any of Ontario’s patients.”
Meanwhile, on “MedsCheck,” Jones didn’t have much to say on the probe’s nitty gritty but promised to explore “how it can be improved, what value is it bringing to both patient outcomes and ensuring that how it began ten years ago is actually how it is being used.”
SCOOP — Will Monique Taylor be the next to make a federal jump?
The veteran legislator, who has represented Hamilton Mountain for over a decade, is one of at least three more NDP MPPs rumoured to be gearing up for a federal bid. She’d go up against Liberal Lisa Hepfner.
Publicly, she’s not saying no. “My priority remains and will always be to represent the good people of Hamilton Mountain to the best of my ability,” Taylor said in an email. “While I’m grateful for the support of many in my community who have encouraged me to bring representation to the federal level, I am not making any announcements at this time.”
With the rumour mill churning about the threat of a snap provincial election, the clock is ticking for federal aspirants to decide whether they will make a jump or seek another term provincially. Stiles’ team is eyeing a nomination blitz after an internal review that found, in many cases, candidates “were nominated too late” to properly campaign.
Who else: This lit piece is fueling speculation that Bhutila Karpoche will also make a jump.
Karpoche — who once mulled over a run for provincial leader but ultimately decided against it — is pictured with federal leader Jagmeet Singh in this handout by the federal riding association. It was circulated on a canvass in High Park in June.
She did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, one is already in: As reported earlier, Joel Harden has been greenlit to seek the nomination in Ottawa Centre. “I’m really concerned about the direction of politics, particularly at the federal level,” he said in an interview. Read up on our Q+A for more on why he’s making the move.
It’s set to be a rematch between Harden and Yasir Naqvi. “[Naqvi] has submitted the nomination documents and will be a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada in Ottawa Centre,” a spokesperson said, closing the door on a possible provincial run. Both duked it out provincially six years ago.
“Both Stiles and Singh will see a flood of candidates — they’re both charismatic leaders and both in a very strong position, electorally,” said a senior party source. “Nearly every federal Liberal seat is in play and a lot of them could go NDP. Provincially, it’s more obvious every quarter that the Liberals have no pulse.”
But for some, it’s a sign of a sinking ship. “It’s quite telling about the state of our party when a bunch of MPPs would rather join Canada’s fourth party with a leader who’s saddled with baggage than stay,” texted one uneasy source.
AT THE PALACE
— The House is out for the summer.
— It’s about to get much quieter at committee. No meeting is scheduled for next week.
— Nomination tracker: Stephen Blais will be nominated to carry the Liberal banner in Orleans on Sunday. Adil Shamji will get the nod in Don Valley East on Tuesday.
Over on Stiles’ ship, four nomination nights for Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West Nepean), Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre), Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West) and Catherine Fife (Waterloo) have been set for early August and September.
— As reported in this newsletter last month, the Liberals’ glitzy winter leader’s dinner is on. It’s set to go down at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in December. Tickets are out and beware: they’re not cheap.
Karen Miller — who has previously collected cash for Ana Bailão, John Tory and planned similar extravagant banquets for the Tories under Tim Hudak and Patrick Brown — is handling the cash gala.
— Defamation dead: A threatened libel claim against Premier Ford is now moot as Sarah Jama’s legal team did not serve papers before a July deadline. “The deadline expired and it was never served,” Ford’s lawyer said.
IN THE NEWS
— The Ford government says it will not repeal the Hazel McCallion Act but is “giving due consideration” to concern over Peel’s ability to borrow cash for infrastructure needs in the capital markets.
That’s the reaction to our scoop on the plea from the region’s three mayors amid a cash crunch.
Recall: The language of the bill, as passed, delegates the minister’s transition board with the power “to modify or undo” a “transaction, commitment or agreement” the region has entered, which, in turn, has made key lenders wary of entering new agreements. The bill, initially introduced to turn Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon into standalone municipalities, was amended to conduct a review of the region’s structure instead.
Tea time: Premier Ford and Mississauga’s new mayor held a “really productive meeting” at his home in Etobicoke.
“[Carolyn Parrish] has an exciting vision for the future of Mississauga,” Ford said. “Together, we’re going to deliver for the people on transit, roads, highways and homes.”
Our most avid readers already know how the Tories feel about Parrish (spoiler: “bullish”).
— Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin says she’s sorry after crashing her car into a child care centre.
Khanjin — pregnant with her second child — said the crash was the result of a “medical emergency.” “Since the incident, I have continued to receive medical support from my doctors, refrained from driving and will not be driving for the foreseeable future.”
No one was injured but the front windows of the centre were smashed.
— The province is injecting more cash to speed up construction on the Gardiner.
ON THE MOVE
— Goldie Ghamari — who was stripped of her role as committee chair last week — has been booted from Justice Policy altogether. She was ejected from the government’s caucus over “serious lapses in judgement.”
— PA shakeup: With a handful of climbers elevated to the front bench earlier this summer, the Tories have quietly done a switcheroo on the parliamentary assistant list.
Anthony Leardi is the new deputy government house leader. He will stay on as Jones’ parliamentary assistant.
Natalie Pierre is the new deputy government whip, while staying put at mental health.
Zee Hamid and Dave Smith are the treasurer’s new assistants.
Deepak Anand is the new parliamentary assistant to the associate minister of small business.
Bob Bailey is the new parliamentary assistant at colleges and universities. He’s staying on at legislative affairs, reporting to Kinga Surma at infrastructure.
Hardeep Singh Grewal and Pierre are joining Stan Cho’s team. Pierre will take on sport while Singh Grewal will take on tourism, culture and gaming.
Kevin Holland is the long term care minister’s new assistant.
Brian Saunderson will stay put with the attorney general while joining the economic development minister’s team.
— Tim Hudak will exit as CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association in August. “I look forward to spending the rest of the summer with my family and tackling new adventures in the fall,” he said. He’s been at the helm for seven years, since his departure from the leg.
— Reginald Niganobe — the former Grand Council Chief at Anishinabek Nation — will seek the Liberal nomination in Algoma Manitoulin. “As I seek the nomination bid and complete the required paperwork and processes, I will update everyone on the outcome of my application later,” he said.
An initial “tranche” — about half their slate — set to be approved by September, including past candidates and likely, Crombie.
WHAT WE'RE READING
— A look at the last school trip on the Ontario Science Centre’s closing day.
— Ontario is ranked seventh in hospital ratings on Google, an analysis found.
— Linda McQuaig says the University of Windsor “came up with a novel idea:” to sit down and negotiate with the student protesters? The results, she says, were notable.
— Is the King’s Counsel dead? The response from Downey’s team: crickets.
— Ed Keenan’s take on the Gardiner: even though Ford is injecting cash to speed up the construction, the “reality is hard to project.”
— Meanwhile, Matt Gurney has a question: why wasn’t this always the plan?
— Premier Ford “felt sorry” for Joe Biden during his debate against Donald Trump — but says no matter Trump or Kamala Harris, we’re no enemy.
— The LCBO is facing legal action by some of Canada’s biggest distillers over “contradictory pricing policies.”
— Sneh Duggal has an interview with the new president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association. They talk cash and AI in the classroom.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to jump into the federal scene? The bug on the wall during Parrish’s meeting with Ford? Hit me up with a tip, item of gossip, story idea or your election prediction: summer or fall. I’ll keep you anon. We’re back in your inbox next Friday.