Arbitrator William Kaplan concluded that while the OMA's target was unprecedented, the government's suggested three per cent was "completely unrealistic." Kaplan wrote that other health-care workers like nurses have received far more for the same time period, and they do not have to pay the overhead costs of running a practice out of their compensation, as doctors do.
Despite negotiations ongoing with the Ontario Medical Association for a four-year agreement, the arbitrator was responsible for determining the first year's increases amid concerns over physician compensation compared to other healthcare professionals.
The Ministry of Health's arguments during arbitration upset physicians, particularly the assertion that recruitment and retention of doctors was "not a major concern" and there was "no concern of a diminished supply of physicians."
The Ontario Medical Association had proposed a five percent general increase plus an additional 10.2 percent to address inflation, reflecting the need for higher compensation compared to governmental proposals.
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