The Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) responded to our concerns on Feb 18th 2026 regarding the burden of annual registration fees.
While the OCP Board acknowledged the essential role of pharmacy technicians, they stated that the 2026 budget is already finalized and no fee reductions or deadline extensions will be granted for this year.
However, they have committed to bringing our concerns directly to the Board at their upcoming meeting on March 23, 2026, to discuss the financial impact on registrants and negotiate future fees.
We have gotten the conversation started but we need to dive more into what their responses to our petition have been to date, for instance:
OCP has said, " OCP charges slightly less" than other pharmacy technician colleges in Canada.
Are we supposed to feel better about being "slightly less" ripped off? Overpriced fees are overpriced fees, regardless of the comparison.
OCP has refused to lower or delay fees
The College is more than financially capable of postponing renewal fee collection for a few weeks to allow for a proper discussion.
What can we do now ?
It is vital that we now reach out to the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT), as they will be representing the interests of many of us at that March 23rd Board meeting.
We are calling on them to advocate for an immediate pause on the March 10th fee collection and to fight for a permanent reduction in OCP fees.
Below is a condensed version of the email that was sent to Robert Solek, the President of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT) - You can move this issue forward by copying the email below and sending it to Robert. Let's flood their emails with our concerns !
EMAIL BELOW
To: rsolek@capt.ca
Subject: URGENT: Request to Advocate for OCP Fee Pause – March 23 Board Meeting
Dear Robert Solek and the CAPT Board of Directors,
I am writing to you on behalf of a growing number of pharmacy technicians in Ontario regarding the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) annual registration fees.
The OCP has committed to discussing the financial impact of these fees at their Board meeting on March 23, 2026. However, they are currently still requiring payment by March 10th. As our representative body, we ask that you formally request the OCP to:
Pause the March 10th Collection:
It is unreasonable to collect these dues just days before a meeting specifically scheduled to discuss their financial impact.
Utilize Reserve Funds:
The OCP holds a substantial "rainy day" fund and is in a strong financial position to postpone these collections for a few weeks without any risk to their regulatory functions. They can afford to wait to receive payments, in contrast many technicians cannot afford to move forward with it.
Fight for Lower Fees:
At the March 23rd meeting, please advocate for a meaningful reduction in fees. Simply being "cheaper than other provinces" does not make the current rate fair or sustainable for technicians.
We trust that CAPT will stand with us on March 23rd to ensure a
fair outcome for the profession.
Here is a link where you can find more information regarding our petition. Please sign and share.
Sincerely,