Anniversary

The outdated Ontario Schedule of Benefits (SOB) was last published in 1992.  Regardless of new surgical  procedures being performed at the time, there was no sign of an updated SOB by the mid 1990s to reflect new codes.

Faced with a severe economic recession and a ballooning provincial deficit, the Ontario NDP government (Rae Days) enacted aggressive austerity measures that targeted health care spending. The impacts on Ontario physicians were historic, resulting in reduced income autonomy, structural workforce shifts, and long-term changes to how doctors were represented. In 1993, the government unilaterally imposed a global cap on the pool of funds allocated for physician fee-for-service billings. If total provincial billings exceeded this predetermined budget, individual physician fees were clawed back or reduced. In 1993, the government passed the Social Contract Act, which overrode existing collective agreements across the public sector to force $2 billion in spending cuts, wage freezes, capped enrollment, doctor shortage.

The 1995 Ontario government omnibus bill refers to Bill 26, officially known as the Savings and Restructuring Act, 1996, introduced by Premier Mike Harris's Progressive Conservative government as a core piece of their "Common Sense Revolution" platform. Critics compared the sweeping, aggressive health care reforms to the federal War Measures Act to sound the alarm on the unprecedented, dictatorial powers the provincial bill granted to the Cabinet. Hospital closures, amalgamations and LHINs ensued.

OMA, Section/District reps and tariff reps were under non disclosure agreements when negotiating with the OMA and Ministry. So, Ontario Section Chair on General Surgery Dr. Ciaran Kealy together with a few close colleagues discuss the idea of an independant organized interest group.

Ontario Section Chair on General Surgery Dr. Ciaran Kealy chairs the usualy Annual Meeting for members of the OMA Section on General Surgery.  It's unanimous, a motion is carried to form a new organization.  It is intended to be called the Ontario Association of General Surgeons with the mission to be the voice of general surgeons in Ontario, with the freedom to lobby their interests without the restrictions of belonging to the OMA.

With the help of a few key general surgeons and their wives, the first informal meeting has been called to organize the Ontario Association of General Surgeons on Nov.5, 1995 at the Toronto Prince Hotel.  The first dues are collected from members, which will help fund the registration as a formal non-profit organization.

The first issue of The Cutting Edge newsletter is published by the new OAGS President Dr. Ciaran Kealy and his daughter, Maureen, out of his home.  This publication will soon become the cornerstone of communications with its membership for decades to come.

The OAGS hires an executive assistant and shares office space on Richmond St. W, Toronto. A phone, computer and fax machine are purchased. The first of many mailouts and faxed communications begin with a survey to 435 Ontario General Surgeons.

Fourteen board members have been appointed to represent general surgeons in each Ontario district: Drs. Ciaran Kealy (President), Chester Pitter (Vice President), Joseph Margolian (Secretary), Garry Fisher (Treasurer), Philip Barron, Leo Chaikof, Suru Chande, James Forrest, Jack Long, Dennis Pitt, Gary Rosenthal, John Rowsom, Stephen Silverberg, Barry Stanley.

The first quarterly board meeting takes place at the OMA headquarters in Toronto.  The OMA Section executive and OAGS Directors coordinate efforts and work together to prepare strategy for the spring marathon meetings with the OMA Central Tariff Committee.  Results from the survey are in with a successful high rate of return.

Letters Patent - As of April 26, 1996, the application for incorporation as a registered non-profit organization has been approved by the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commerical Relations.