How much does it cost to talk to Minister Kennedy?

So how much does it cost to get Minister Jerome Kennedy's attention.

Perhaps this can be answered by looking at the Contributions to Political Parties in 2010. It was not an election year - but one must not take any chances.

Shopper's Drug Mart was among the top donors again with $8500 to the PC's.

Strange though - ironic? Hardly! In this year Shopper's Drug Mart was able to get their own line of prescription drugs listed in our formulary in record time. In this year the Minister refuses to meet with the trade group that represents the majority of independent pharmacy owners in our province. After-all what's happening in Ontario should happen here right Minister?

What's happening in Ontario is killing small independent pharmacies - particularly in rural communities!

Then there is the elimination of seniors rights in personal care homes. You know where Lawton's or Shopper's give or offer a hefty check to the homeowners to guarantee access to the prescription drug purchases of residents.

More to come....

Have a look at the contributions to your PC's PRESS HERE.

Minister Jerome Kennedy turning blind eye as Seniors lose basic rights?

Is Minister Jerome Kennedy ignoring the activities of Shopper's Drug Mart and Lawton's Drugs that essentially are causing the removal of Seniors rights in personal care homes?

Read what has happened to seniors in Grand Falls-Windsor as reported today by the local paper.

Where are Minister Susan Sullivan and MHA Ray Hunter?

Why is the Dunderdale government protecting big business over seniors?

PRESS HERE FOR THE STORY

Was Paul Oram in a Conflict of Interest when Trying to Buy Businesses while Minister?

Yesterday Paul Oram, Former Minister of Business and Health decided he would weigh in on the pharmacy issue.

Important questions for Mr. Oram

1. When he was negotiating to buy pharmacies was he the Minister of Business or the Minister of Health?
2. Would he be in conflict when serving as either Minister while at the same time using the knowledge he has in those portfolios and applying that directly to business acquisitions?
3. When Mr. Oram says he would buy pharmacies then or now - what price is he talking about?
4. When Mr. Oram says the pharmacies would have to "adjust their businesses" what does he mean? Is he saying that services would have to be cut for seniors? Would there be mass layoffs? Would the hours and accessibility change?
5. Oram says not "every" rural pharmacy would close - what one's does he believe will close?
6. Did Mr. Oram divulge financial information to his colleagues in government that was attained confidentially? 

Mr. Oram remains a voice-box for government and where Minister Tom Marshall silenced all MHA's on the issue publicly (like a dictator) - the government is now going to send out ex-MHA's and ex-Ministers.

Below is the transcript from VOCM's Open-Line

PAUL ORAM: Yeah, the comments on the pharmacists, talking about pharmacies and so on. You know, we looked at buying a couple of pharmacies a few years ago. I can tell you that, you know, the negotiations stopped because the owners decided not to sell. And it was two independent pharmacies. And I can tell you right now that if the pharmacists and if anybody wants to sell me pharmacies today, I'm open for business. I'll buy them. I mean these pharmacies are making a whole lot of money. The generic drug business is making a whole lot of money. And yes, the margins may be cut a bit. Like everybody we have to adjust our businesses every day for different things to change our margins. But the reality is, these pharmacies are still worth a lot of money.

RANDY SIMMS: So you don't accept the argument from these independent pharmacists that in actual fact the loss of these professional fees or pharmaceutical rebates will mean the demise of their business. You don't believe that.

PAUL ORAM: Absolutely not. They may have to adjust their business somehow to make it work more properly or make it work differently. I mean the reality is that this is a law that's put forth in Canada. These rebates have been coming in and I think government turned a blind eye to it for years. That's the reality. But at the end of the day, they're making a whole lot of money. And should they make money? Yes, they should. I think everybody should make money, you know, and the more they make the better. But you know, the province has an opportunity here to save some money and save a lot of money, by the way. So we have to look at every possible way to save money. I mean this is not the demise of every small pharmacy in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, in Newfoundland and Labrador in general. I mean this is just, this is going to have to be an adjustment that's made by the pharmacies to ensure that they keep their business viable. And I believe these businesses are very viable and I heard some comments --

RANDY SIMMS: And you, Paul Oram, businessman, you're ready to buy a couple if they're willing to sell them.

PAUL ORAM: I want them. Ask them to give me a call. I'll buy them right now.

RANDY SIMMS: I got to end on that note, Paul.

Minister ignoring Seniors being used as Pawns by Chain Drugstores

How Minister Kennedy is ignoring Seniors being used as pawns by Chain Drugstores read this expose HERE

Seniors Abuse, Personal Care Homes, and Big Corporate What You Should Know

Elderly abuse comes in all forms - but one of the most troubling areas is the loss of rights. The choices that many of us take for granted. Over the next week - Sue's Blog is going to take on a particular issue relative to the seniors of our province - and what happens as they enter into personal care homes.

We will explore a seniors loss of right to choose a health care professional and decisions that they are forced to make when moving into some of these homes. When they are offered no choice but to accept that which you and I have free choice over.

The format will not be opinionated but one of fact - and very disturbing to the individuals and families involved.

Sue's Blog will take you inside (virtually) and show you how big national publicly traded companies are controlling markets and thereby controlling the choices of seniors.

During the course of this discussion and revelation of factual accounts please feel free to leave me a message and let me know if you or a loved one is experiencing the same problems.

What will our government do? What have they done? What is it costing our healthcare?