Greetings!
The Public Affairs Update is your weekly insight, perspective and analysis on politics in British Columbia and Canada. This newsletter is brought to you by the largest, and most broadly-based business organization in the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce - the Voice of Business in BC.
|
|
Government Terminates Generic Drug Pricing Agreement
|
|
The BC Ministry of Health announced it is terminating its generic drug pricing agreement with the BC Pharmacy Association and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, effective April 1, 2012.
Minister of Health Hon. Mike de Jong plans to introduce legislation this spring that will aim to lower the prices of generic drugs to 25% of the cost of the brand name drug by April 1, 2013.
Currently, generic drugs cost 40% of the brand name price. That rate is scheduled to lower to 35% on April 2, 2012.
The Province plans to reinvest savings achieved in the health-care systems to enhance patient care by managing the cost of PharmaCare for low income seniors and families, increasing funding for pharmacy services and supporting rural and remote pharmacies.
|
|
Pat Bell Promoting BC Trade with Asia in Ottawa
|
|
Hon. Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, was in Ottawa last week with provincial and territorial trade Ministers discussing Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent trip to China. A key outcome of this trip was the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, where the federal government has committed to complete a trade and economic study by May 2012. The study will make recommendations on ways to improve trade and investment between Canada and China.
BC exports to the key Asian markets identified in 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs rose 23.3 per cent in 2011 over 2010. Potential exists for even greater growth in these markets through the
|
|
Province Introduces Education Improvement Act
|
|
 Hon. George Abbot, Minister of Education, introduced Bill 22: the Education Improvement Act last week. The legislation will suspend the current job action by teachers and prohibit further job action for a six month 'cooling off' period; appoint a mediator to facilitate bargaining; set new rules for class size and composition; and implement a new $165-million Learning Improvement Fund.
In response to Bill 22, B.C. Teachers Federation President Susan Lambert announced that 41,000 teachers across the province will strike for three days beginning Monday. Job action was approved by the B.C. Labour Relations Board earlier this week.
The Board also approved a one day strike in each week that follows, but once the bill is passed, job action will be prohibited. Bill 22 is currently in second reading the Legislature, and could be passed as early as next week.
|
