Ontario's doctors announce General Meeting with binding vote on tentative Physician Services Agreement

TORONTO, July 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors will be assembling at the Allstream Centre in Toronto for a General Meeting of members on Sunday, Aug. 14. At this meeting, members of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) will discuss and vote on the tentative Physician Services Agreement (PSA), endorsed by the OMA Board of Directors and first announced on July 11, 2016.

"While the tentative PSA isn't perfect, with it our profession now has the opportunity to move forward with much-needed stability and predictability," said Dr. Virginia Walley, President of the OMA. "That's in stark contrast to the potential outcome of voting no – with continued unilateral action with possible and permanent cuts of more than $1 billion to funding for physician services."

The General Meeting is the result of the OMA having received a petition that called for a general meeting to vote on the tentative PSA, as provided for in the organization's by-laws. As a result, an independent third party has been engaged to manage the voting process. As per the requirements of Ontario's Corporations Act, which governs the voting process, OMA members must vote in person on Aug. 14 at the General Meeting or by submitting a proxy.

"I, of course, continue to welcome all opportunities to engage with each and every member about the proposed agreement, and what it means for the future of our profession," said Dr. Walley. "It's what members of the Board and I have done since announcing the agreement, and it's what we'll continue to do."

In this tentative agreement the OMA has achieved: strong protection against further unilateral actions by government; four years of stability for doctors so that they can provide the care their patients need; the reversal of a program that was impeding new doctors from joining team-based models of primary care; and the return to a co-operative working relationship with the government. Most importantly, the OMA negotiated an agreement that would significantly improve on the problems with the government's previous underfunding of growth.

SOURCE Ontario Medical Association

Danielle Milley, Senior Advisor Media Relations, Office: 416-599-2580 ext. 3008 or 1-800-268-7215 ext. 3008, Mobile: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Kari Cuss, Senior Director, Marketing Communications & Government Relations, Office: 416-599-2580 ext. 2260 or 1-800-268-7215 ext. 3008, Mobile: [phone], Email: [email protected]