Infighting threatens to split medical association

Floundering talks with Ontario may divide group

Infighting has erupted again within the Ontario Medical Association, with threats to split the organization up and charges that contract talks with the new Doug Ford government are floundering.

The latest battle is unfolding in the midst of growing discord among different specialty groups over how any new wage increases from the government should be divvied up. In an email sent to OMA members Friday, Dr. David Jacobs said he has resigned from the organization’s board of directors.

Jacobs, who is also vice-president of the Ontario Association of Radiologists, wrote that he has reached out to 24 different medical specialty groups and that they have been receptive to the idea of breaking away from the OMA.

Under Jacobs’ proposal, specialists would have separate representation from family doctors in contract talks with government.

He did not specify which specialty groups he was referring to and could not be reached for comment.

In his email to doctors, Jacobs claimed that contract negotiations with the three-month-old Ford government have reached an impasse: “Our negotiations with the Ford government have reached their end and we return to arbitration.

“Premier Ford has been very clear in his support of front line doctors, yet we are still unable to bridge the gap between our association and the government.”

Jacobs wrote that a group of10 individuals, representing the 24 specialties, met with an official from Ford’s office on Wednesday: “The conversation was frank and the message was well received. Specialists of Ontario need to be heard. They need to freely choose who represents them, just as primary care physicians should be able to do the same.”

But the premier’s office has a completely different take on what went on at the meeting and insists talks with doctors continue.

“The meeting in question, with more than 10 physicians, was about strengthening Ontario’s health-care system. At no point during the meeting did the premier’s office engage in a discussion about the ongoing negotiations with the Ontario Medical Association,” said Ford spokesperson Simon Jefferies.

“Our government continues to negotiate with the Ontario Medical Association as we work toward a new deal. We acknowledge the Ontario Medical Association as our negotiating partner and the incredible work our doctors do servicing patients across Ontario,” he added. OMA president Dr. Nadia Alam said Jacobs’ “letter made many assertions that are troubling.”

Talks with government continue, but if a negotiated settlement cannot be reached, the OMA is prepared to move to arbitration on Oct. 22, she said. The OMA and province have been without a contract for more than four years.

Many doctors, Jacobs included, backed the Conservatives in June’s election in the hopes it would give them an easier ride than the former Liberal government.