Hon. James McCrae (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, there have been extensive discussions between House leaders and individual members as well, and I believe we have a number of matters to which we agree. I believe the House will give unanimous consent to these matters. First, to waive private members' hour for Thursday, April 30, that is tomorrow; Monday, May 4; Tuesday, May 5; and Thursday, May 7. On those Thursdays, the understanding is that the House would rise at five o'clock, those being April 30 and May 7.
Madam Speaker: Is there unanimous consent of the House to waive private members' hour for tomorrow, Thursday, April 30; Monday, May 4; Tuesday, May 5; and Thursday, May 7, with the understanding that the House will adjourn on Thursday, April 30, at five and Thursday, May 7, at 5 p.m? [agreed]
Mr. McCrae: For clarification, I think, Madam Speaker, the House will adjourn tomorrow at five and Thursday, May 7, at 5 p.m. Right, you said that. I would like also to announce that tomorrow morning, this is also pursuant to discussions that have been had, the House will have two consecutive private members' hours and tomorrow afternoon we will consider the Estimates in committees of Supply.
In a moment, I will ask you, Madam Speaker, to call some bills. I do not think we need any further unanimous agreement, or do we? No. So for this afternoon, I would ask you to call Bills 30, 4 and 19, and if those matters conclude this afternoon then the bills could be called in the order they are printed on the Order Paper.
Madam Speaker: Just for clarification, I will reiterate the announcement made by the government House leader regarding tomorrow morning's proceedings, and that is that the House will have two consecutive private members' hours and then will move to Committee of Supply after regular Routine Proceedings tomorrow afternoon.
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Environment (Mr. McCrae), that Bill 30, The Pharmaceutical Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les pharmacies, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.
Motion presented.
Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to amend The Pharmaceutical Act to allow Manitoba to join other provinces in adopting a national harmonization of drug schedules, with the goal of having drug products offered for sale in the same place and under the same conditions in all provinces. A model, harmonized drug-scheduling system has been adopted by provincial pharmacy regulatory bodies across Canada.
The system creates three schedules of drugs. Drugs contained in the first schedule require a prescription for sale and will be dispensed by a pharmacist. Drugs on the second schedule do not require a prescription, but must be made available only from the pharmacist and must be retained within an area of the pharmacy where there is no public access and no opportunity for consumers to select the drugs on their own. Drugs on the third schedule may be selected by a consumer, but are to be sold from the self-selection area of a pharmacy where a pharmacist is available to assist the consumer in making an appropriate selection. Unscheduled drugs can be sold from any retail outlet.
The development of these schedules has been accomplished in consultation with a variety of consumer and industry organizations, including the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors and its members who have strongly encouraged all ministers of Health to implement these schedules. This system will be incorporated into the regulations under The Pharmaceutical Act should these amendments be approved by the Legislature.
This bill contains a new provision allowing the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations prescribing the conditions to be met, including any fees to be paid by manufacturers who wish to have their products considered for designation as interchangeable products in the formulary.
This is a companion amendment to the one contained in Bill 13, also before this House, The Prescription Drugs Cost Assistance Amendment Act, which I introduced in the fall.
This bill will remove the provisions respecting the confidentiality of prescription information, as this has now been replaced by the provisions of The Personal Health Information Act. Pharmacists are described as trustees under that particular piece of legislation. This bill, it is proposed, will replace the current provision with provisions respecting the confidentiality of the information obtained by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, its employees and committees in the course of administering The Pharmaceutical Act.
The maximum fine for a breach of this provision, it is proposed, will be set at $50,000, which is the same maximum fine as The Personal Health Information Act. These provisions are the same as those contained in Bill 20, The Medical Amendment Act, which I introduced for first reading on March 11.
Finally, Madam Speaker, this proposed bill contains housekeeping amendments that will make minor corrections in the French version of several provisions and will facilitate the operation of the association's complaints and discipline committee. I thank members for their attention, and I look forward to discussion on this bill and the committee portion of the process.
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): I move, seconded by the member for Concordia (Mr. Doer), that debate be adjourned.
Motion agreed to.