The province has pulled the plug on arbitration with the Ontario Medical Association – saying they have “lost confidence ” in the organization representing doctors – after a number of specialists recently left the group.

But the OMA charges that the government is violating its legal obligation to arbitration – which was to resume Saturday in the almost five-year-old contract dispute – over what doctors can bill the province for services.

The two sides signed off on an agreement for binding arbitration last year – after the OMA membership voted in favour of the plan.