Ontario doctors vote to reject new fee agreement, OMA says

The Ontario Medical Association says the province'sdoctors have voted to reject a new fee agreement with the province.

It says 63.1 per cent of its members voted against the four-yeardeal.

The OMA says the vote means it will immediately request a meetingwith the provincial government to communicate its expectations forrenewed negotiations.

• EARLIER:Results delayed in OMA ballot counting

Ballots were cast Sunday during a town hall-style meeting inwhich doctors argued over the agreement, which would increaseOntario's $11.5-billion physician services budget by 2.5 per cent ayear.

It would also allow doctors to co-manage the system with theMinistry of Health and Long-Term Care, and prohibits any moreunilateral fee cuts by the government.

The OMA says 55 per cent of its membership participated in thevote.