“In the coming months, the Government of Ontario will announce additional investments and actions to preserve and expand services vital to the health of Ontario’s patients and people.

We are adding hundreds of new nurses to community and long-term care, expanding home care services, increasing support for mental health and addiction and increasing access to telemedicine in northern and rural communities. We are able to make these improvements to care even in the face of challenging economic times because we have made the right choices. One such choice is to place a real freeze on the amount we pay our doctors.

The Ontario Medical Association continues to resist a real wage freeze and is looking for ways – both direct and indirect – to boost doctors' pay. Here are some facts they will not share with Ontarians facing pay freezes and making sacrifices of their own:

• According to the latest figures, Ontario’s doctors earn, on average, $385,000 per year and are the best paid in the country.
• Many specialists now earn twice that amount or more.
• Since 2003, doctors’ pay has increased by an average of $164,000.
• During the same period, 3,400 more doctors have launched practices.

The bottom line is that Ontario is the best place in Canada to practice medicine. A real wage freeze that helps us support more nurses, more home care and more mental health services will not change that fact.

The OMA wants you to believe that either they get another increase, or doctors will leave Ontario.  That’s a false choice.  The real choice facing our health care system is, will doctors accept a real wage freeze, or should we make do with fewer health care services like home care?  I’ve made my choice.  It’s up to the OMA to explain why we should be increasing physician salaries at the expense of other frontline services.

I continue to encourage the OMA to return to the table with our government so that we can reach an agreement that puts the interests of patients first.”

QUICK FACTS

• Today, 2.1 million more Ontarians have a family doctor as compared to 2003.
• Ontario has added 13% more family doctors and 18% more specialists since 2003.
• In 2011/12:
  • Family physicians earned $351,237 on average.
  • Diagnostic radiologists earned $668,819 on average.
  • Ophthalmologists earned $666,477 on average.
  • Cardiologists earned $585,348 on average.
  • Vascular surgeons earned $600,797 on average.
  • Nephrologists earned $634,898 on average.

Zita Astravas, 416-327-9728
Minister’s Office

Joanne Woodward Fraser, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
In Toronto: 416-314-6197

Public Inquiries
Call ServiceOntario, Infoline
at 1-866-532-3161
TTY 1-800-387-5559.
In Toronto, TTY 416-327-4282
Hours of operation : 8:30am - 5:00pm