Stettler pharmacies close in protest of provincial cuts LES STULBERG Independent reporter Three of Stettler’s pharmacies joined counterparts across Alberta last week in protest of the provincial government’s cuts in pricing of generic drugs. “It’s a huge blow to the pharmacy business model,” said Scott Savage, pharmacist and owner of Savage Value Drug Mart. Like their counterparts, the Stettler businesses were closed for an hour, from 11 a.m. until noon, last Thursday. Effective May 1, the province plans to cut in half what it pays for generic drugs. It will pay 18 per cent of brand-name drug prices for generic drugs — down from 35 per cent. The severity of the cuts caught many pharmacies off guard. “We knew the government was up to something — we just didn’t know it would
be this drastic and radical,” Savage said. He had expected the price would be “trimmed to 30 per cent, or perhaps 25 per cent — worst-case scenario. “Nobody was expecting 18 per cent. It was quite a shock to the profession. We won’t be able to staff pharmacies the way they need to be staffed.” Savage said pharmacy owners are concerned about their profit margins. “There won’t be an independent pharmacy out there, that it won’t be tight for.” Mike Chase, pharmacist and owner of Apple Drugs in Stettler, echoed Savage’s concerns. “It’s estimated that this provincial cutback will impact each pharmacist $100,000 and each pharmacy $400,000 in lost wages and income, as it is implemented,” Chase said. Savage said Alberta will have the lowest generic-drug prices in Canada, and perhaps the world.
“I can’t understand why Alberta has to be the lowest. It shows no concern for small, independent business.” The provincial government promotes the cutback as saving Albertans $90 million on generic drugs. The pharmacies disagree. “Pharmacies will be forced to either charge for services they have provided free, such as delivery, tax receipts, advice and counselling, or reduce staff, services, or close altogether,” Chase said. “The savings the government touts will just be passed on to the consumer — no pharmacy, or any business, operates to lose money or break even.” Chase said the three independent pharmacies in Stettler employ more than 50 people. Savage said programs and grants the government is directing toward pharmacies to ease the loss of revenue are “shortterm and band-aid solutions at best” and
don’t come close to offsetting the cuts. Chase was concerned the price cut of generic drugs might have a negative affect on drug availability. “There have been several drugs already discontinued by generic manufacturers because these drugs are not profitable to produce,” he said. “This will affect patients’ therapy and also increase the cost as the patient will have to switch to the moreexpensive brand — if it is even available. Many brand products have been discontinued once the patent expires.” Savage said “the timing was brutal,” as the announcement of the generic-drug cutback and the recent expansion of his store. “I don’t think the government realizes the impact this will have — especially on rural, independent pharmacies,” he said. “It makes you stop and look at it and wonder, why you would want to do this if you aren’t going to make any money.”
Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
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April 17, 2013
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Photos by RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
SPRING HAS SPRUNG … DRESSED AS WINTER — Aaron Schaefer clears snow at Christ-King Catholic Church after another spring snowstorm hit Stettler. RIGHT: Chris Hofer shovels snow off the sidewalk during one of the two weekend storms. Milder temperatures arrived early this week.
Liberals herald new federal leader By Laura Tester Black Press Newly crowned federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will bring youth, charisma and fairness to Canadian politics, Liberal supporters in central Alberta said Monday. William Weiswasser, president of Red Deer’s federal Liberal Electoral District Association, said he was pleased to see Trudeau win the leadership on Sunday night in Ottawa. It will be a positive step, not only for the party, but for everyone in federal politics, he said. “I think he will provide a very spirited opposition to the phlegmatic (Stephen) Harper government, which exercises severe control over everything,” Weiswasser said. He’s looking forward to Trudeau reinvigorating the party and is expecting the 41-year-old to bring exciting and beneficial ideas to Parliament in September. “I think his win represents a lot of coalescing of a lot of support nationwide and I think his youthfulness appeals to the younger voter, who is in many cases apolitical and uninvolved,” Weiswasser said. He liked both Trudeau and former MP Martha Hall
Findlay during the federal leadership campaign. Both visited Red Deer while on the campaign trail across the country. Trudeau achieved a landslide, first-ballot win, taking in more than 80 per cent of the available points in a final field of six candidates. MP Joyce Murray finished a very distance second with 10 per cent of the vote. Trudeau was originally up against eight candidates, including MP and former astronaut Marc Garneau. Red Deer historian Michael Dawe had supported Garneau, who ended up dropping out of the race on March 13 to support Trudeau. Dawe said he believes that Trudeau’s last name could benefit or hinder him as he moves forward. The son of the late former prime minister Pierre Trudeau should be judged on his own merits, Dawe said. “He is extremely charismatic and he speaks really well.” Dawe hopes that Justin Trudeau will bring in a new era of politics where leaders can work together on solving Canada’s issues. He said Trudeau might already have some problems in trying to bring a positive atmosphere on the Hill. The Conservative government unleashed attack TV ads Monday that suggested that Trudeau was too inexperienced to rule the country.
Trade show weathers spring storms as patrons line up for business buzz RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Spring snowstorms last Saturday and Sunday put a dent in crowds at the Stettler trade show, but organizers say the numbers weren’t impacted appreciably. “Although the weather played into attendance slightly, there were about 2,400 people through the show over the weekend ,” said Stacey Benjamin, the manager of the Stettler Regional Board of Trade and Community Development. “It wasn’t down that much, considering the weather.” Overall, the numbers were similar to last year, she said. Saturday was hardest hit by inclement weather, but 1,000 still showed up at the Stettler Recreation Centre for the busiest day of the three-day fair. About 850 people attended Friday and 550 on Sunday, traditionally the lightest day of the event, Benjamin said. Even before the doors opened Saturday morning, about six inches of snow fell overnight in the region, with higher amounts in the surrounding areas. Although the weather created headaches outdoors, vendors were pleased with the reception inside the recreation centre. “This is a good place to show our product and we got lots of interested people,” said Bill Strohschein of Cottage Concrete, a new business that set up a booth at the trade show for the first time. That reaction was echoed by another business that came back to the show this year, after an absence. “It’s always been good for our business, and we got a fair number of leads,” said Lawrence Muhlbach,
LES STULBERG/Independent reporter
With balloons in hand, Trinity and Vienna Chapman are all smiles Saturday as they tour the annual Stettler trade show at the Stettler Recreation Centre. For more photos from the show, see Page 2. owner of Heartland Glass. “I haven’t been here for a few years and decided to return this year.” For longtimer participants, the show helps to boost business. “People thought the snow might slow down traffic on Saturday, but crowds were still strong,” said Kelly Hicks of Stettler Dodge and RV. “When do you get this many people walking through your business on a weekend?” Spring is also a good time to promote outdoor businesses, said some
of the vendors. “People are still coming in to the show,” said Beth Fulton of Echoglen Gardens in Donalda. “What else is there to do in the snow?” She also ranked the Stettler fair among the best in the province. “People have told me that the trade show in Camrsoe doesn’t have near the support as Stettler,” Fulton said. The 34th annual Stettler trade show is scheduled for April 11 to 13 next year.
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