Welcome to the Canadian National Multilingual News Group (CNMNG). This is a project made possible through funding by Canadian Heritage. CNMNG aims to gather news researched and written by a corps of Canadian-based journalists/writers from the country’s multilingual community groups. The overall goal is to inform, analyze and critique the issues of the day in a professional manner and to provide that to publishers and editors active in the ethnocultural-multilingual press and media whose experience provides them with a perspective that is sensitive to news relevant to their own language group.
Negotiations resume between Ontario optometrists and the provincial government following failed attempts to arrive at a resolution in the eye care crisis. As a “sign of good faith” during the negotiation process, the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) have resumed eye care services for OHIP-insured patients, including children and seniors.
The stand-off between Ontario’s optometrists and the provincial government continues with no end in sight. Since September 1, nearly 95% of the province’s 2,500 optometrists have stopped performing OHIP-funded services for people under the age of 20, seniors aged 65 and over and individuals on disability.
Earlier this month, the Ontario government offered a one-time payment of $39 million to indicate a “starting point” in support of optometrists and to further discussions along. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health (MOH) told the Corriere that, “payments will flow to optometrists across Ontario on October 15”.
Time is running out for eye care patients in Ontario. As of September 1, most of Ontario’s optometrists will stop providing services to seniors, adults and children covered by OHIP.
In March, an overwhelming 96% of Ontario optometrists voted to withdraw eye care services to patients covered under the Provincial health care plan. The action by the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) stems from more than three decades of underfunding by the Ontario government. (more…)
