Public policy should be guided by credible scientific evidence, real-world experience and measurable health outcomes.

We support policies that are regularly evaluated to determine whether they are achieving their intended objectives. When evidence shows that a policy is creating unintended consequences, governments should be prepared to adjust their approach.

Pharmacists can provide valuable insight into how policies work in practice and how they affect patients, health professionals and communities. We support healthy, informed and balanced dialogue about issues affecting pharmacists and our patients.

Pharmacists are among Canada’s most accessible healthcare professionals and are taking on increasingly important roles and responsibilities in the delivery of care.

Public policy should allow pharmacists to focus their time and clinical expertise on services that improve patient health. Administrative requirements and distribution restrictions should be proportionate, practical and supported by evidence.

A sustainable pharmacy system is essential to improving access to care and reducing pressure on other parts of Canada’s health system.

Canadians should have reasonable access to authorized health products and services through appropriate and responsible channels.

Access frameworks should reflect the risks and intended uses of individual products. They should also consider the needs of patients in rural, remote and underserved communities.

Appropriate oversight, education and enforcement can protect the public without creating unnecessary barriers to lawful and authorized products.

We support responsible retail practices, clear product standards and labelling, appropriate age-verification, and meaningful enforcement against individuals and businesses that sell restricted or illicit products to minors.

Governments should take stronger actions against illicit and unauthorized products operating outside Canada’s regulatory system and that are easily available to young people.

Effective youth protection requires enforcement, education and policies that address how products are actually being accessed and used.

Protecting young people is a shared responsibility.

Patients should take responsibility for their health. They must be able to make informed health decisions in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals.

We support risk-proportionate regulation that recognizes meaningful differences between products and does not unnecessarily restrict access to a broad range of authorized therapeutic options.

Harm reduction is an established public-health principle. Policies should encourage people to move away from higher-risk behaviours and toward safer, regulated alternatives when complete abstinence is not immediately achievable.