Dear Minister Elliott, Ms Martin and Mr Dicerni,
A link to my letter published in yesterday's Toronto Star: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2021/11/07/ministry-hasnt-taken-eye-care-crisis-seriously.html
It's difficult for caucus MPPs to make any reasonable decision on this matter when the MOH negotiation team and associated bureaucracy aren't being transparent with them, nor are they representing the government well by disrespecting the optometric profession. That is what the negotiation team did when they forced our representatives (the OAO - Ontario Association of Optometrists) to look at blank computer screens on the second day of negotiations, promising to return every few hours from 9 am-7 pm all day, and then not returning with anything. This cost the OAO upwards of $12k in mediation fees - money wasted by the MOH-OHIP negotiation team's unpreparedness and unprofessionalism. Shortly thereafter, the Minister of Health broke a non-disclosure agreement by making an offer public (essentially the same offer that was rejected in December/2020).
Optometrists and patients are being held hostage by this negotiation team, and the Minister and Premier need to make this team understand that their actions are unprofessional, disrespectful and are resulting in a delay in the resolution of this crisis - and to contact the OAO today to return to the table with a more realistic and reasonable offer that will build a sustainable eye care funding model for Ontario.
Dr Peter Rozanec, OD
Optometrist, Mississauga
