U.S. politician says Canada's threats keep drug prices lower

WASHINGTON (CP) - Canada is objecting to attacks from a U.S. politician who says his northern neighbour uses threats to achieve low prescription drug prices that are unfair to American consumers.

Michael Kergin, Canada's ambassador to the United States, sent a letter this week to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert, saying Canada takes issue with his suggestion Canadian drug prices are subsidized by Americans.

"It's wrong that our friends in Canada use threats to steal the patents of American drug companies in order to negotiate lower prices," Hastert said in a recent news release.

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"Neither price controls, nor the threat of patent theft, are driving lower drug prices in Canada," said Kergin, who attributed them in part to the exchange rate, bulk government purchases and lower costs because there's no direct advertising of drugs in Canada.

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http://www.canada.com/news/world/story.html?id=94959065-128F-4D46-A9EF-E3BD4E9A2FD1

That's all I gotta say. So stick up your ass Bushco.