Dear Colleagues
Attending the OPA townhall presentation the other night opened my eyes even more on how we need each other's support to continue living. 

         OPA was reaching out for support,  we need their structure and government relations skills, this is a workable win-win situation. Unity is required, not more divisions.

         As a Founding member of the Pharmacists' Society of Ontario PSO, I knew I can speak on behalf of a 1000 relief Pharmacists and some independent pharmacy owners but now with this petition things are moving towards representing more big chain pharmacists. There are more that 2500 petitioners mostly pharmacists and lately more chain Pharmacists.

          The thing is we can't get everyone on board under one body, OPA can't do it and PSO can't either

I call on all stakeholders to a united and a more coordinated efforts.

          If you are under a buying group, a banner, a chain, a hospital management, etc... please share this petition with your top management, get them to use their "government relations" to support our efforts.

          The fine line here is we want to show strength but not to become intimidating to anyone, we are not a threat, we are part of the solution. A lion in the wilderness knows its powers and walks with confidence but if he is alone even hyenas know that they can take him out. we know our skills, and we know our struggles whether to immigrate to Canada and live in it's most populated province or some of us are still paying their student loans.
          Reach out to every pharmacist and tell them we are a mosaic coalition to create a proper pay for Pharmacists based on their experience,  education level and skills as an expansion not as a replacement for the "building or the shelves". We are asking for a new advanced source of revenue, i.e. expanded scope, vaccination and minor ailments compensation structure (we want a big fat envelope).
          Pharmacies can handle a big load off the Healthcare Budget but part of that budget needs to be allocated towards Pharmacists, "pharmacists as the tools for the change that is coming".

Thank you all and please continue to spread the word.

Tamer Matta, pharmacist.