Evidence of meeting #40 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aqpp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Public Affairs, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
We might need to get permission from the organizations concerned.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
That's it.
I know, I'm ruthless.
Mr. Uppal is next, but just on this issue of data, is there a privacy issue? I'm talking about your organization having information that the pharmacists may have.
Executive Vice-President and Director General, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
We get information on all the programs, like the number of people covered and the volume, from organizations with whom we have existing agreements. So, the information comes from Health Canada, for example, or other organizations. We would not be at liberty to distribute that information without first obtaining their permission.
February 3rd, 2011 / 9:40 a.m.
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for coming.
I'm pleased to see that negotiations are under way. It looks like you'll come to some kind of conclusion pretty soon.
Just to get some background on your industry and a better understanding, there are drugs that are covered or provided for refugees that are not provided for Canadians, correct?
Executive Vice-President and Director General, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
As far as I know, these are the same drugs. Based on what I learned last Monday at our meeting with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the drugs provided to the refugee population are the same as those provided to Quebeckers through the list and the Quebec provincial plan. There is no discrimination. They're the same products.
Does that answer your question?
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
No. It was my understanding that there were different drugs provided for some refugees that are not available, or covered, for Canadians.
Executive Vice-President and Director General, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
Some drugs may not be covered by the Quebec public system and be covered for refugees. Each program has its own particularities and each program covers certain products.
For example, for the Canadian Forces, certain programs are put in place to cover over-the-counter drugs that are not covered by the Government of Quebec for Quebeckers. So, the Canadian Forces pay for certain over-the-counter drugs and the troops can get them on their military base.
In Quebec, there's an agreement for troops who aren't stationed on a base. They can get over-the-counter drugs at a pharmacy and be reimbursed. There are distinctions to be made in each program.
It's possible that some products are covered for refugees, as well as other products that are covered for the Quebec population. That's quite possible, but I couldn't list those products or say exactly what they are.
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
Would it not make more sense for your industry to have the same drugs covered for Canadians and for refugees, to bring it down to a matter of fairness? Have all the same drugs covered.
Executive Vice-President and Director General, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
Obviously, the same products are available for everyone. Are they always reimbursed by plans at the same rate? It can vary from plan to plan.
If everyone had the same coverage everywhere in Canada, obviously it would be much simpler for pharmacists.
Conservative
Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You're talking about the refugees. Right now we have two bills, Bill C-11 and Bill C-49. We want to make sure that the bogus refugees can't stay in Canada forever.
Do you think your Canadian customers will appreciate that they are not subsidizing fake refugees? Because there could be people coming to the pharmacists claiming that.
Executive Vice-President and Director General, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
I can't comment on that. I presume that the Canadian government wants to pay the people who are covered, but I don't know how to answer that question, madam.
Conservative
Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC
Okay.
I understand that some refugees actually have dental coverage, whereas regular Canadians do not. Are you aware of that ?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We're getting into things that may be interesting, but we're talking about drugs. You can proceed a little bit, but I think you're getting beyond what we've agreed to talk about.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Just for clarification, I was a little confused when Mr. Cadieux was talking about the data, actually. I'm following up on Mr. Oliphant's concern.
What I heard was that individual pharmacies have their data. The issue is that so many pharmacists are not paid for so many patients, if my information is correct. I wonder how the pharmacists' union figured out how many patients are not paid for, if they don't have any mechanism for data.
Director, Public Affairs, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
It was our members who made these claims to us about pharmacists who haven't been paid so that we could step in with CIC and defend them.
It was pharmacists who sent us their problems and who asked us to intervene with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to resolve the ongoing dispute. That's how we knew about it. In our offices, we have hundreds of files, so we can say that there are pharmacists who are waiting for payments or who haven't been paid yet.
We don't have global data, but when pharmacists contact us, we know that they haven't been paid and that they have claims with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
So am I correct in understanding that there could be more than those hundreds of files, which have not been...?
Conservative
Director, Public Affairs, Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires
Yes, it's possible that there are more than a hundred because we only know about our members who have contacted us. If there are members of the association who have not told us about it, we cannot know about it. We're aware of the files that are brought to our attention, but it's possible that there are others.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Quickly, did you send any message to your membership that they should provide you with the data of what has not been paid or where there is a problem?
