TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews played good cop to Premier Dalton McGuinty's bad cop today in the province's battle with pharmacists.

McGuinty suggests he's not concerned if some pharmacies have to close because of the government's plan to eliminate $750 million a year in so-called professional allowance fees.

He says there are more pharmacies in Ontario than there are Tim Hortons in all of Canada.

An hour later, Matthews crashed a news conference at the legislature being held by some local pharmacists, who warned they would have to cut staff and start charging for some services.

Matthews held a brief meeting with three pharmacists, with television cameras rolling, and said both sides were in agreement about the need to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

On Tuesday, Matthews announced a sudden delay in eliminating the fees the pharmacies get from generic drug companies, and they want to know how long that delay will last.

The New Democrats say the delay shows the government is caving to pressure from the pharmaceutical industry.