TORONTO — The Ontario Medical Association must clearly show independence from the government to adequately represent physicians in fee-for-service negotiations, Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove said Saturday.

"The one thing that has to be absolutely clear is the independence of the bargaining agent from the employer," Hargrove told a conference held by the Coalition of Family Physicians in Toronto.

"I do get concerned when I hear people saying that the OMA is almost obligated, either by law or by some moral commitment, to agree with everything the government comes down with finally," he said.

"I say that that's nonsense. You can't represent your members if you somehow start out with a feeling of obligation to who's representing the other side of the table."

The OMA represents the political, clinical and economic interests of about 24,000 physicians in Ontario.

Hargrove also criticized the provincial government, touching on a range of issues, including tax cuts, which he said have come at the expense of social ills demanding immediate attention.

He told the conference that physicians must communicate more effectively with the public at large and with each other to make their economic demands heard.

"Boy, does passion mean a lot when people are listening to your arguments," Hargrove said.

Doctors should also use the media and become more prominent in the public eye so that the public at large understands their concerns, Hargrove said.

"Mobilize. Mobilize to win."

"Use the respect that you have in your community to your advantage and challenge the politicians who preach the tax cuts," he said.

Physicians should follow the direction set by their leadership to preserve solidarity, but only if they feel the leadership is acting in their best interests, he added.