Ontario government comes to terms with doctors on new deal

Ontario and its doctors have reached a tentative four-year agreement, including annual increases to the physician services budget.

A statement announcing the deal with the Ontario Medical Association, which represents 34,000 physicians and medical students, does not include the amount of the increases.

It's been two years since the province had an agreement with the OMA, and the Liberal government has had a tense relationship with doctors since it unilaterally imposed some fee cuts last year.

Monday's statement says the tentative deal will see "co-management" of the physician services budget, which would allow the government and doctors "to work together to jointly identify savings, update fee codes and account for technological change."

The deal, which is set for a ratification vote in August, also includes funding for hiring more doctors and improving access to primary care physicians.

Details are set to be made public once the agreement is ratified.