Report on Small Business Newsletter: Medical professionals press Ontario for fee hikes

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Ontario medical professionals pressing province for fee hikes to cope with rising minimum wage

Some health professionals in Ontario are calling on the provincial government to boost the fees they’re paid under programs such as Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), citing rising costs exacerbated by the recent spike in the minimum wage.

Professionals such as physiotherapists and optometrists say it has been years since they received an increase in fees for certain services covered by the province, despite rising expenses and inflation. Now, the recent 21-per-cent hike in the minimum wage is putting a further squeeze on their operations. While most office staff and assistants to professionals are paid more than minimum wage, some are seeking a pay increase to widen the gap between those making the lowest wage, and to keep up with the rising costs of living. That’s putting pressure on the business owners to retain those workers, while also covering increasing expenses. Full story

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Small-business lobby group wants Ottawa to impose sales tax on Netflix-like services

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Entrepreneur Alexandre Taillefer to preside over Quebec Liberal campaign

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