Public Affairs Update Header
Issue No. 12April 30, 2012
In This Issue
Pharmaceutical Services Act to Lower Drug Prescription Costs
Province Names Audit Council Members
BC's Education to Provide More Choice, Flexibility
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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.

 

Pharmaceutical Services Act to Lower Drug Prescription Costs

 

The BC Government has introduced Bill 35, the Pharmaceutical Services Act, which aims to allow the government to regulate and lower prescription drug costs. Bill 35 will shift PharmaCare from a program relying on government policy to one protected by legislation.

 

Currently, generic drugs cost 35% of the brand name price. Through Bill 35, the BC government plans to further reduce these costs. The act will also allow the Ministry of Health to lower the cost of drugs and other medical supplies through regulation.

 

The regulations related to drug pricing will be drafted over the summer as the Ministry consults with key stakeholders.

 

Province Names Audit Council Members

 

Hon. Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development has announced the five Audit Council members who will be overseeing the Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG):

  • Anthony Ariganello (Chair), President and CEO of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada;
  • J. Richard Heney, a partner and lawyer with Fulton and Company;
  • Donalda MacDonald, Vice President of Finance and Controller, Westminster Savings Credit Union;
  • Lisa Payne, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Finance for Colligio Networks; and
  • Timothy J. Wood, retiring Chief Administrative Officer for the District of Saanich.

The Audit Council's first task will be to make a recommendation to the Minister as to who should be appointed Auditor General for Local Government.

 

The Audit Council will also be responsible for monitoring the performance of the AGLG by reviewing and providing comments on performance audits, annual reports and service plans.

 

BC's Education to Provide More Choice, Flexibility

 

This week, Minister of Education Hon. George Abbott  introduced Bill 36, the School Amendment Act with the goal of allowing more flexibility in where, when and how BC students learn. Bill 36 extends students' ability to take a mix of online and traditional school courses to students in kindergarten through Grade 9. Currently, only students in grades 10 to 12 have this option.

 

Other changes to the School Act include:

  •  Eliminating the Standard School Calendar to enable boards of education and education authorities to offer more creative scheduling options (the Ministry of Education will continue to set a minimum number of instructional hours); and
  •  Clarifying that school boards may charge fees relating to the direct costs of providing an international baccalaureate program if they exceed the costs of providing a standard education program (although any such fees are subject to financial hardship provisions).

 



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This weekly report produced for the BC Chamber of Commerce by Fleishman-Hillard.  While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication as of the date of issue, events and government policies are subject to frequent change.  Therefore, the BC Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hillard cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis on the information contained herein.