Under Pressure: Pharmacists Are Sounding the Alarm in Quebec — and Ontario Should Pay Attention Too

At Centrum Pharmacy, we care deeply about the quality of care you receive — and that care depends on having dedicated, full-time pharmacists available to serve our community. Unfortunately, a serious challenge is affecting pharmacies across Ontario and Quebec and beyond: a growing overreliance on replacement (or “locum”) pharmacists — and it’s pushing many pharmacy teams to the breaking point.

The Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP) launched a “Day Without Replacements” to bring attention to Quebec’s growing dependency on pharmacy staffing agencies. It was a symbolic but urgent call to rescue a profession under strain.

But this isn’t just Quebec’s problem.
Here in Ontario, we are facing the same crisis — quietly, but deeply.

What’s Happening Across Canada?

Every year, over 1 million hours of pharmacy work in Quebec are filled by replacement pharmacists, often hired through private staffing agencies. While this might seem like a solution to the pharmacist shortage, the truth is more complex — and more concerning.

• Agencies aggressively recruit both new graduates and experienced pharmacists
• Many salaried pharmacists are being approached during work hours and lured away with promises of higher pay and lighter shifts
• This “gig-style” model weakens long-term pharmacist-patient relationships and destabilizes pharmacy teams

According to AQPP President Benoit Morin, this situation has become “intolerable.”

In Ontario, the situation is just as serious:

• Corporate chains are hiring fewer full-time pharmacists
• Many shifts are now filled by part-time, casual, or contract workers
• Full-time pharmacists are covering more clinical services with less support
• Long hours, high prescription volumes, and rising administrative tasks are driving burnout and disengagement

The result? A growing number of experienced pharmacists are leaving full-time roles in traditional settings, or choosing not to enter the field at all — threatening the stability of front-line pharmacy care across the province.

Why Does This Matter for Patients?

Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals in Canada. You don’t need an appointment to speak to one — but that accessibility is at risk.

As pharmacies are pushed to do more with less, here’s what’s happening behind the counter:

• Prescription volumes continue to grow
• Clinical responsibilities like vaccinations, medication reviews, and minor ailment assessments are increasing
• Wait times are getting longer
• Pharmacists are reporting record levels of fatigue and stress

But the number of practicing pharmacists hasn’t kept pace

If these trends continue, access to timely, personalized, and safe care will suffer — not because pharmacists aren’t capable, but because they are stretched too thin.

Ontario Needs to Learn from Quebec

The call to action from Quebec should serve as a wake-up call for Ontario.

“We run the risk of being ineffective on the front line and reducing accessibility if we continue down this path.”
— Benoit Morin, AQPP President

Ontario pharmacists face the same structural issues:

• Decreased hiring of full-time staff
• Increasing clinical obligations without corresponding staffing or compensation
• Limited opportunities for ownership or independent practice in large corporate systems
• A workforce that is underappreciated, despite being central to public health

Financial Strain and Systemic Instability

The current model is not just a staffing issue — it’s an economic and sustainability problem:

• Pharmacies are spending more on replacements than they would on permanent hires
• Budgets are being stretched to keep doors open and hours extended
• Pharmacy owners are burning out, and some are considering reducing services

And while replacement pharmacists serve a purpose in emergencies or short-term absences, using them as a long-term solution is not sustainable.

What Can Be Done?

Whether in Quebec or Ontario, we need systemic solutions:

• Hire more full-time pharmacists with benefits, mentorship, and job security
• Support independent pharmacies that prioritize continuity of care
• Invest in recruitment and retention — especially in underserved and rural areas
• Ensure pharmacist workloads are realistic and sustainable
• Encourage new graduates to build careers in community practice, not just short-term contract work

Centrum Pharmacy’s Commitment

At Centrum Pharmacy, we are proud to be independently owned and operated. We believe in continuity, community connection, and caring relationships between pharmacists and patients. We support fair, stable employment for pharmacists — because your health deserves consistency and professionalism, not rushed or reactive care.

We also urge patients to recognize and support your local pharmacists. Behind every filled prescription is a trained professional balancing safety, interaction checks, patient counselling, and complex clinical judgment — often under time pressure that’s invisible to the public.

Help Us Protect Frontline Pharmacy Care:

• Talk to your MPP about the need to support full-time community pharmacists
• Encourage pharmacy students to explore long-term practice in community settings
• Support local, independent pharmacies — where your care truly comes first

If we don’t act now, we risk hollowing out one of the most accessible pillars of our healthcare system.

Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.