Anglais

Some high-paid medical specialists vote to break away from OMA

Published

5 années ago

novembre 30, 2018

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Doctors from eight medical specialty groups — who are among the highest paid in the province and are facing the prospect of fee cuts — have voted to break away from the Ontario Medical Association.

The “Ontario Specialists Association” or OSA — as the collective of groups is calling itself — is unhappy with the way the OMA has been representing its members in contract deliberations with the province and wants to negotiate its own deal.

The breakaway specialists also don’t like that many doctors want high-billing specialty groups — such as those in the OSA — to be hit with fee cuts. Lower paid specialties — including psychiatrists, geriatricians, infectious disease doctors and pediatricians — argue that the $12 billion the province pays doctors should be more fairly divvied up.

The $12-billion physician services budget represents 10 per cent of the entire provincial budget.

Whether the province will recognize the OSA is still to be determined.

It is unclear exactly how many of the province’s approximately 31,000 active physicians voted in favour of seceding, but it’s believed to be a small number, relative to the size of the profession.

The news release states: “Voting results by specialty in favour of seceding from the OMA” include the following:

Cardiac Surgery: 78.6 per cent;

Cardiology: 84.7 per cent;

Diagnostic Imaging: 90.5 per cent;

Otolaryngology: 67.2 per cent;

Ophthalmology: 90.0 per cent;

Gastroenterology: 78.1 per cent;

Nephrology: 63.4 per cent;

Neuroradiology: 95.9 per cent;

Nuclear Medicine: 76.7 per cent.

But the actual number of doctors represented by these percentages is not clear.

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Adding to the confusion is that the release states eight major specialist groups want to separate, but the above breakdown refers to nine. There are a total of 38.

The physician spearheading the split, radiologist Dr. David Jacobs, did not respond to emails seeking clarification.

There was much discussion among doctors on Twitter about this Thursday, with many contending the total number that voted to separate is quite small.

However, in an earlier telephone interview, Jacobs said: “We were very happy with the high level of participation.”

One physician tweeted only 5 per cent of all of the province’s doctors voted to secede. The OMA estimates the same.

A source close to the talks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity saying some Ontario doctors have a history of attacking people on social media, estimates only 10 per cent of all specialists (non-family doctors and non-general practitioners) voted yes:

“That is not exactly impressive. Even Donald Trump has a higher favourable rating.”

The doctors and province have been without a contract for more than four years. The contract dispute is now in binding arbitration.

Under a binding arbitration framework that OMA members endorsed, the arbitration panel must consider the issue of relativity. That refers to the big pay gaps between the highest and lowest paid specialty groups.

That would not bode well for the OSA. The government is seeking fee cuts as high as 15 per cent for the top paid specialists. Asked if this is why they want to separate and negotiate their own contract, Jacobs responded:

“The whole organization, if you look at the government’s mandate, is facing the prospect of fee cuts.”

Pressed further on the issue, Jacobs said: “You have my comment.”

One major outstanding question is whether the province will recognize the new association. Currently the province recognizes the OMA as the profession’s sole bargaining agent, essentially its union.

The OSA’s news release said the organization’s next step is to meet with government representatives and persuade them, based on the voting results, to recognize the organization.

Hayley Chazan, press secretary for Health Minister Christine Elliott, said the government plans to seek legal advice on how to proceed:

“As a result of the Ontario Medical Association’s recent referendum outcome, our government will evaluate the impact with respect to the existing legal framework for bargaining agents and will consult with legal counsel to confirm next steps.”

OMA president Dr. Nadia Alam pointed out it was not the OMA that carried out the vote and noted questions have been raised about the results:

“The OMA did not conduct this poll, and we cannot verify its validity. A number of members have raised concerns about voting irregularities. This survey is not legally binding because the OMA’s representational rights are baked into our provincial laws and our Representational Rights Agreement.

“So, we will continue to argue for a good deal for all sections at the arbitration table. This remains our top priority.”

The infighting within the profession is heating up at the same time that the OMA is asking the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that would make the names of top-paid physicians public. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Star earlier this year in a decision that would allow for the release of names.

The Star has been trying to get the names released for almost five years in a quest that started with an access-to-information request to the province’s health ministry. The province’s privacy commissioner and Ontario Divisional Court have also ruled in the Star’s favour.

Theresa Boyle is a Toronto-based reporter covering health. Follow her on Twitter: @theresaboyle

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

Published

3 années ago

août 10, 2021

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline.

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors.

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity.

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement.

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level.

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet.

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.