Interest arbitrator awards Ontario doctors 6.95% catch-up and 3.0% normative increase for 2024–2025 in light of inflation and the repeal of public sector wage cap legislation
In the context of provincial physician shortages, particularly in underserved communities, an interest arbitrator awarded Ontario doctors a 9.95% compensation increase for the first year (2024–2025) of the Physician Services Agreement between the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Medical Association. The arbitrator allocated 6.95% of this increase for non-retroactive catch-up, to address significant inflation and to compensate for the impact of the now-invalidated Bill 124 restricting compensation increases in the parties' previous negotiations, while the remaining 3% was designated as a normative increase, matching the amount awarded to other healthcare unions in the hospital sector for the same period.