How much advance notice do provincial pharmacy regulators require before a pharmacy changes owner?

The three provincial pharmacy regulators checked here each publish their own notice period for a pharmacy changing hands, and the periods differ in length and in who has to act. If you are asking how long it takes to sell a pharmacy, these periods are the minimum for one regulatory step, not the length of the whole sale. They matter because they bear on the earliest date a closing can safely be set.

Newfoundland and Labrador: 30 days

The College of Pharmacy of Newfoundland and Labrador says an owner must apply for a change in ownership before selling an interest in the pharmacy. That covers a sale of the pharmacy and a sale of shares in the pharmacy or in a corporation that holds its shares. The current pharmacist-in-charge submits the application through the College’s portal at least 30 days before the expected change. If it is approved, the current licence is terminated and a new one is issued.

Saskatchewan: 10 days

The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals describes an ownership change as a sale of the assets of a pharmacy to a new person or entity. When that happens, the pharmacy permit terminates and the new owner must make a new application. The College requires notice at least 10 days before the planned change. A buyer of a pharmacy’s assets in Saskatchewan should not assume the seller’s permit carries over.

Ontario: 45 days

The Ontario College of Pharmacists says that acquiring an existing pharmacy is equivalent to opening a new one and requires a new Certificate of Accreditation. A complete application must reach the College at least 45 days before the proposed opening date of the new pharmacy. The College also says issuance depends on approval of the application and a satisfactory assessment of the pharmacy, so build that time into the closing date.

Other provinces

These are the three regimes checked for this page. Colleges in other provinces may set different periods or ask for different filings. Confirm the current rule with the regulator where the pharmacy operates before you agree a closing date. For the wider process, read selling a pharmacy in Canada.