Premier Dalton McGuinty says he has no sympathy for big drug stores threatening to cut services over changes they say will hurt their bottom line.
Shoppers Drug Mart is cutting store hours starting today in the London-area - home of Health Minister Deb Matthews - to protest planned changes to Ontario's prescription drug plan.
It's the latest move in an escalating battle with the government over a plan to outlaw professional allowance fees paid to pharmacies by generic drug companies.
Mr. McGuinty says his only sympathy is for consumers who are paying too much for drugs, and adds there will be no additional concessions from the government to offset the changes.
Mr. McGuinty says the province tried to come to an agreement over costs with pharmacists, but decided to move ahead with the changes even though those talks failed.
He also says he won't hold the Shoppers protest against former Liberal premier David Peterson, who is on the board of directors of that company and is also Matthews' brother-in-law.