Rewards programs at Alberta pharmacies to continue
Programs remain in effect pending a judicial review in 2015
Shoppers will be able to earn rewards points for purchases made at Alberta pharmacies until a judicial review of the program is completed in 2015.
The Alberta College of Pharmacists announced in April that rewards points would not be awarded for pharmacy transactions.
The College said the programs were a breach of ethics and wanted to move pharmacists away from commercial incentives.
Grocery retailer Sobey's argued millions of Albertans collect rewards points such as Air Miles at pharmacies and it says a petition calling on the government to reject the rewards ban is up to 38,000 signatures.
The company challenged the ban in court.
A Court of Queen's Bench judge has ruled the rewards programs can continue until a judicial review can be done early next year.
With files from The Canadian Press