The Ontario Association of Optometrists is firing back at provincial claims the OAO is refusing to come to the table and negotiate.
In a released statement the group states it accepted an invitation to mediation with the government and after two days, it became abundantly clear that the Ministry of Health was not there to negotiate in good faith.
The Association says instead of focusing on a real, long-term solution, the province used the process as a publicity stunt and breached confidentiality when disclosing confidential information to the public.
Officials stress a one-time payment that wasn’t discussed was imposed and no long-term solution has been presented.
The OAO stopped doing eye care services funded by OHIP at the beginning of September in the dispute with the province.
Here is the full statement from the Association:
“In late August, the OAO accepted an invitation to mediation with the Ontario government to fight for high-quality eye care for our patients. After only two days, it became abundantly clear that the Ministry of Health was not there to negotiate in good faith. Instead of focusing on a real, long-term solution, the government used the process as a publicity stunt. The government breached confidentiality when disclosing confidential information to the public, and imposed a one-time payment that was never negotiated. These actions demonstrate the government’s lack of commitment to a responsible bargaining process.”
“While it is accurate the OAO did not accept the terms of further mediation, we stand confident in that decision as those terms would have prevented us from achieving our goal of a long-term solution. At no point did we anticipate the government to walk away after only one attempt at cooperation. The fact is, mediation is a costly process. The OAO is a small organization that does not have the infinite resources required to engage in a process where one of the parties is not taking it as seriously as the other. Eyecare in Ontario has been left behind for over three decades because we have blindly trusted these same disingenuous outreaches by the Ministry of Health over the years. While they talk about building a new and better relationship, to date there have been no commitments or indication of a thoughtful plan that will ensure quality access to eye care for everyone in Ontario today, and into the future. We need reassurances that this time it is truly different. Our phone lines remain open and we patiently wait for the Ministry to reach out and discuss a genuine path forward – one built on trust and constructive dialogues. The people of Ontario deserve no less.”
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa is also weighing in on the continued dispute.
Mamakwa says he’s talked with optometrists across the riding who have shared concerns about the long-standing deficiency in funding.
The Ontario Optometrists Association started job action in September in what it calls a long-standing deficiency in funding for eye care.
Mamakwa stresses people in the north are now without eye care when we already have fewer practitioners and the costs to provide essential health care services are higher.
He states our area also has a higher incidence of diabetes in people of all walks of life, particularly First Nations people, and optometrists are most concerned about their health as well as seniors and children.
Mamakwa adds each day the conflict is not resolved adds unnecessary risks to the health of people across Ontario.
Here is the letter from the MPP to the Ontario government:
Dear Minister Elliott,
RE: Ontario Optometrist OHIP Service Withdrawal
I am writing today to draw your attention to the concerns of my constituents across the north who no longer have access to OHIP insured eye care due to the Ontario Association of Optometrists job action that began this month. I spoke with optometrists who care for clients across the riding who shared their concerns about the long-standing deficiency in funding for eye care.
People in the north are now without eye care where we already have fewer practitioners and the costs to provide these essential health care services are higher. Our area also has a higher
incidence of diabetes in people from all walks of life, particularly First Nations people. This demographic, along with seniors and children, are who our optometrists in the region are most
concerned about.
First Nations people are also provided with coverage from Indigenous Services Canada for a range of medically necessary health benefits, including vision care benefits. Ontario law is now
preventing First Nations youth, Elders and those with medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and diabetes from accessing vital eye care as Non-Insured Health Benefits cannot
legally pay for a provincially insured service. It is unconscionable that First Nations people with medical conditions, Elders and youth are being denied these services.
Once again, jurisdictional barriers are preventing vulnerable First Nations people from accessing services that improve their health outcomes.
Eye care is essential health care. I strongly urge you to return to the negotiating table and work with the Ontario Association of Optometrists to ensure that eye care is properly funded so that
elders, children and the most vulnerable across Kiiwetinoong are able to get the eye care they need and deserve.
Each day that this is not resolved adds unnecessary risks to the health of people across Ontario.
I look forward to your response.
Meegwetch
The City of Dryden has also passed a resolution in support of optometrists.
Part of it reads:
“Ontario has undervalued the eye health of Ontarians and cannot continue to neglect and jeopardize access to eye care.”
“Therefore be resolved that the Council of the Corporation of The City of Dryden request the Provincial government recognize the value of access for Ontarians to quality eye care and act now to protect it and that the Provincial government take action to ensure that the OAO be granted a formal negotiation process with the Ontario government to fund these services at least to the cost of delivery.”
