Yellowknife (May 12/03) - Twelve of the 15 specialists at Stanton Territorial Hospital say they'll walk if they don't get a contract settlement.

They issued the resignation ultimatum to Premier Stephen Kakfwi April 1, said Dave Murray, deputy minister of health and social services.

The specialists say they will resign July 1 if they don't get a contract. Their contract expired April 1, 2002. The government and the NWT Medical Association have been negotiating since February 2002 but still haven't come to an agreement.

The doctors rejected an offer last fall that included a nearly 17 per cent pay increase.

"(The resignation) is telling me negotiations have taken a next step in importance," said Al Woods, interim chief executive officer for Stanton Territorial Health Authority.

Woods and Murray cannot speak to the negotiation issues until the contract is agreed on by both sides and ratified by Health Minister Michael Miltenberger and the NWT Medical Association membership.

The next round of contact talks is scheduled for May 28-30.

"We're hoping to reach an agreement by May 30," said Woods.

Stanton has 14 specialist positions with 15 people filling those roles.

A specialist is a doctor who's taken extra schooling to enhance their skills in a specific area.

They include obstetricians, psychiatrists or general surgeons. If they quit, it would mean more patients being sent to Edmonton hospitals.

"We have to send Stanton patients to Edmonton if we're not able to provide the service here," said Woods.

"But it's not just about the money. It's all about general service provision which is very important."

NWT Medical Association president Dr. Ken Seethram was unavailable for comment at press time Friday.