N.L. government breaks off doctor negotiations

The provincial government broke off contract talks with Newfoundland and Labrador's doctors Thursday, CBC News has learned.

"Effective earlier today, the provincial government has cancelled all negotiation meetings with the NLMA," says a memo to association members that was forwarded to CBC News.

"An emergency meeting of the Executive Committee has been convened for this evening, Thursday, March 18."

The provincial medical association, representing almost 1,000 doctors, is not commenting but is expected to hold a news conference Friday morning.

The physicians' four-year contract with the province expired last October.

Premier Danny Williams on Wednesday described the NLMA's bargaining demands as "through the roof" and well beyond what the government would accept.

During the last week, both he and Health Minister Jerome Kennedy have used strong language to describe certain groups of doctors, particularly pathologists embroiled in a controversy over management of lab services at Eastern Health. Kennedy outraged physicians by describing the physicians working at the lab as "childish."