Warren Perkins said he is not averse to paying more for drugs to help pay down the province's debt. (CBC)

Senior citizens in Ottawa have mixed opinions about a suggestion in the Drummond report that they pay a greater share of their prescription drug costs.

The report issued Wednesday from TD Bank chief economist Don Drummond to the Ontario government called for extensive spending reductions to avoid leaving the province with a $30-billion deficit by 2017-18.

Drummond said the province could save $300 million a year if seniors with a high income paid more for their daily medications, and said if the relationship between drug costs and income was even tighter, the province could save as much as a billion dollars annually.

Under the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan most prescriptions for seniors over 65 are free. Drummond's report says some seniors could pay up to $1,000 more a year.

Several seniors at the Good Companions Seniors' Centre in Ottawa told CBC they thought cuts needed to be made and said they were willing to do their part, but some were concerned about what would constitute "higher income."

Warren Perkins, 82, who takes seven prescription drugs a day for his heart and prostate, said he's not opposed to paying more for his pills.

"I don't think we really have a choice," said Perkins. "If it's going to mean that the province is going to continue into debt I would be willing to pay my fair share."

Questions about 'higher income' standard

Barbara Nichols, 76, said she feels the recommendations from the Drummond report are necessary, and said everyone needs to do something to help reduce the debt. She said her only question is at what level of income would seniors start to pay more.

"Is it going to be $30,000, $40,000 income?" she asked. "I think it should be $45,000 [or] higher income, because rents are higher."

Shirley Leslie, 67, takes 15 pills a day for diabetes and high blood pressure. She said she is worried about how much more she may have to pay.

"I couldn't afford to pay for them ...because if you add them all up they are well over $500 a month if I had to pay for them...pay for drugs and don't eat," said Leslie.

Doug Angus, a health economist at the University of Ottawa, said targeting wealthier seniors is a better option than delisting certain drugs to all seniors and saying "okay you can figure out how you're going to pay for this."