The Quebec government is putting a halt to the controversial practice of doctors getting a break on rent if they locate their clinics in buildings owned by pharmacists.

Jean Charest's government tabled legislation on Wednesday to limits trade-offs between the two groups of professionals. 

The bill will force pharmacists to charge market-value rent to physicians who are tenants in their buildings, and will charge fines up to $20,000 for repeat offenders.

The bill follows an ethics panel report that found it improper for pharmacists to charge medical clinics little or no rent for space in their buildings.

The panel looked into the issue after junior transport minister Julie Boulet, who owned a pharmacy in St-Tite, admitted in 2003 to offering doctors free rent in the store.

The legislation will reign in such practices, says Quebec Justice Minister Yvon Marcoux.

"The doctors are amending their code of ethics to provide that a doctor cannot accept an advantage, except if it is only of minor importance, or a token of appreciation."

The new rules, if they pass in the National Assembly, will restore the public's confidence in pharmacists and doctors, Marcoux said.