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continued from p.4 Doctors invited to reconstitute as a union: Province If the OMA's insistence that it be awarded the right of binding arbitration that we have provided to other public sector unions is so great that it is willing to be reconstituted formally as a union and accept all the obligations that other public sector unions have adopted -- including withdrawing objections to salary disclosure that all other government unions are subject to and relinquishing the rights of members to incorporate individually -- the government would be open to that discussion. Ontario Minister of Health and Long-term Care 11 | Thursday, September 15, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com In recent weeks, the OMA, which represents the political, clinical and economic interests of the province's medical profession, sent out an open letter calling for binding arbitration -- an alternative dispute resolution to end the standoff between doctors and government. Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins responded with his own open letter Aug. 25, stating the government would be open to recognizing it as a public sector union if doctors are willing to have their salaries disclosed publicly and accept their tax breaks slashed. "If the OMA's insistence that it be awarded the right of binding arbitration that we have provided to other public sector unions is so great that it is willing to be reconstituted formally as a union and accept all the obligations that other public sector unions have adopted -- including withdrawing objections to salary disclosure that all other government unions are subject to and relinquishing the rights of members to incorporate individually -- the government would be open to that discussion," Hoskins wrote. He continued in approaching future discussions, he wanted to be clear in articulating the principles that will guide how the government negotiates. Hoskins noted the government cannot accept an agreement that demands no limits whatsoever on what physicians can bill for their services. dedicate increasing resources toward that goal, as it proved with its commitment of a more than 10 per cent increase over four years. "In doing so, however, we must address the inherent inequities within the compensation structure that unfairly rewards certain specialists at several times the rate of the average family doctor," he continued. "This is an area where we achieved consensus and it is imperative that we take action with specific reforms and concrete change." Hoskins also held firm the Province will not "relinquish our responsibility to ensure that all of Ontario's physicians are paid fairly and not just a select few; nor can we, in good conscience, surrender our ability to also invest in other areas of our health-care system, such as home care and community care, investments that matter not only to patients, but to the majority of physicians as well." Kovacs reiterated for the health-care system's sake, an honest discussion must be had between doctors and the government. "We can't be participants at the table when we're not equal partners," he said. "We need to have the understanding that we need to negotiate in good faith." -- with files from Theresa Boyle, Toronto Star Dr. Eric Hoskins Skyway Jewellers "Simply stated, our next additional healthcare dollar must not only increase physician compensation, it must also help boost investments in home and community care, in our hospitals, our nurses and personal support workers (PSW)," he said, adding the government is determined to keep Ontario's doctors among the best-paid in Canada and will SEPTEMBER 15-18 S P E N D M O R E S AV E M O R E SPEND $150 SAVE SAVE SAVE $50 $150 $250 SPEND $400 SPEND $650 FOAM4U.ca · · · · · Quality Mattresses Natural Organic Foam Soya Foam Memory Gel Foam Custom Cut Foam · Residential · Commercial · Motorized Vehicle · Custom Specialty Needs Valid only at participating retailers. Void where prohibited. Prices before taxes. Not valid with prior purchase. Excludes gift card purchases. Maximum discount per transaction is $250. Product selection may vary. Foam4U Work Shoppe 2-5205 Harvester Road, Burlington foam4uworkshop@gmail.com QEW Harvester Rd. Appleby Line Burloak Drive 905-802-5319 2501 Third Line, Oakville (Third Line and Dundas) 905-827-0700 www.skywayjewellers.com