Contract negotiations between the NLMA and government may be at a standstill, but the debate between the two sides continues to heat up.

The Medical Association today issued a release slamming Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development John Abbot for statements he made questioning their claims that some 99,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are without access to a family physician.

The NLMA stands by its numbers, revealed in a survey commissioned by the Association and carried out by Narrative Research.

Minister Abbott was questioned by Opposition member Tony Wakeham in the House of Assembly today after suggesting that the numbers simply don’t add up.

Abbott, who got his numbers from Statistics Canada, says he stands by what he said.