Minister of Health and Longterm Care Dr. Eric Hoskins says he needs to give the Ontario Medical Association time before any new negotiations take place.
"I'm prepared to give them the time to do what they feel is necessary and to express to me when they feel confident and prepared to come back and have discussions," says Hoskins.
He says he continues to be disappointed the tentative fee agreement, which included a yearly increase of 2.5% to the $11.5-billion physician services budget, was rejected.
Hoskins says the inability to reach a deal was not a failure of the government.
"We reached an agreement with the OMA, the OMA failed to obtain the majority of their membership in support of the agreement," says Hoskins.
Hoskins says the government's main priority is to balance physician compensation with other important health care initiatives like home care, and mental health.
He is confident residents in Ontario will not be negatively affected by the failed negotiations.
