Rewards programs at Alberta pharmacies to continue

Shoppers will be able to earn rewards pointsfor purchases made at Alberta pharmaciesuntil a judicial review of the program is completed in 2015.

• Alberta pharmacies to stop accepting rewards cards

• Sobeys to fight Alberta ban on pharmacy reward points

The Alberta College of Pharmacistsannounced in April that rewards points would not be awarded for pharmacy transactions.

The College said the programs werea breach of ethics and wanted to move pharmacists away from commercial incentives.

Grocery retailer Sobey'sargued millions of Albertanscollect rewards points such as Air Miles at pharmacies and it saysa 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 Benchjudge has ruled the rewards programs can continue until a judicial review can be done early next year.