SALARY CLASSIFICATION

21.1 There shall be nine (9) levels of remuneration for residents as follows:

(a) PGY-1 - A resident in the PGY-1 category is in the first year of a specialty training program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

(b) PGY-2 - A resident in the PGY-2 category is in the second year of a RCPSC or CFPC specialty training program, having completed a previous year of training acceptable to the RCPSC or CFPC as leading to certification in that program.

(c) PGY-3 - A resident in the PGY-3 category is in the third year of a RCPSC or CFPC specialty training program, having completed two previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC or CFPC as leading to certification in that program.

(d) PGY-4 - A resident in the PGY-4 category is in the fourth year of a RCPSC specialty training program, having completed three previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to certification in that program.

(e) PGY-5 - A resident in the PGY-5 category is in the fifth year of a RCPSC specialty training program, having completed four previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to certification in that program.

(f) PGY-6 - A resident in the PGY-6 category is in the sixth year of a RCPSC specialty training program, having completed five previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to certification in that program.

(g) PGY-7 - A resident in the PGY-7 category is in the seventh year of a specialty training program of the RCPSC, having completed six previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to certification in that program.

(h) PGY-8 - A resident in the PGY-8 category is in the eighth year of a specialty training program of the RCPSC, having completed seven previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to certification in that program.

(i) PGY-9 - A resident in the PGY-9 category is in the ninth year of a specialty training program of the RCPSC, having completed eight previous years of training acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to certification in that program.

Furthermore, all new programs or changes to programs shall be reviewed annually by the parties for the purpose of inclusion in this Agreement. Failing agreement between the parties, the proper adjustment to the salary classification scheme as a result of a new program or change to a program may be referred for determination pursuant to the grievance and arbitration procedure under Article 8.

21.2

(a) For the purposes of Article 21.1, 21.2, and 21.3, reference to a specialty training program includes reference to an allied subspecialty training program or equivalent, and reference to certification includes reference to a certificate of special competence or equivalent.

(b) For the purposes of Article 21.1, the highest level at which a resident in a specialty or subspecialty training program or equivalent shall be paid is the highest level at which a resident would be paid in the final year of training in that program if that resident had completed training in the minimum number of years required by the RCPSC, by the CFPC, or by a university as described in paragraph (c) of Article 21.2, in order to be certified or complete training in that program.

Note: By way of example with respect to the application of Article 21.2 (b), under the current RCPSC rules, the highest level that a resident would be paid in internal medicine is the PGY-4 level, since four years of training is the minimum number of years of training required by the RCPSC to complete training in that program (i.e. internal medicine).

If, after completing four years of training in internal medicine, the resident then entered subspecialty training in rheumatology (currently a two year program), the resident would be paid at the PGY-5 level in the first year of rheumatology training (since, under Article 21.1 (e), this would be the resident's fifth year of a RCPSC specialty training program, having completed four previous years of training in internal medicine acceptable to the RCPSC as leading to the certification in that program), and would then be paid again at the PGY-5 level in the second year of rheumatology training (since the minimum number of years of training required by the RCPSC to complete training in rheumatology is five years three years of internal medicine plus two years of rheumatology training).

At the same time, the resident could pursue subspecialty training in rheumatology immediately after completing three years of internal medicine training (PGY-1 to PGY-3 levels), with the two years of rheumatology training being paid at the PGY-4 and PGY-5 levels, (since the resident would be considered to be in the fourth and fifth years of a RCPSC specialty training program, with the first year of rheumatology training also counting as the resident's final year of internal medicine training).

(c) Where a university requires that all residents in a particular specialty or subspecialty program complete an additional year (or part year) of clinical or research training beyond the RCPSC or CFPC clinical or research requirements, that additional year (or corresponding part year) shall be counted as a year (or corresponding part year) of specialty training in determining the resident's level of compensation under Article 21.1.

(d) An individual is defined to be a resident reentering residency training when that individual is a physician with an independent practice license who is returning to residency training after having practised outside of any residency training program for a period of at least one year, and who is filling a re-entry position, but does not include a resident who is on an approved leave or other legitimate absence from residency training, including a resident who is absent due to sickness or disability or for purposes of conducting fellowship or other research outside of a training program.

21.3 A resident who transfers into another program, or who re-enters residency training within the meaning of Article 21.2 (d), shall be given credit for previous training for the purposes of Article 21.1, in accordance with the number of years of training for which the resident is given credit by the CFPC or RCPSC.

21.4 All residents whose source of funding is a foreign government, shall be paid in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. However, a comparable total compensation package wherein such residents receive comparable compensation including benefits and reimbursement or provision of expenses to that set out under this Agreement is permissible. In all cases where such residents are allegedly receiving the comparable total compensation PAIRO shall be notified of the details of such compensation. In the event of a dispute as to whether the compensation is comparable, the matter may be referred to the Medical Post-Graduate Consultation Committee for discussion. In the event that the matter is not resolved the matter may be referred to arbitration pursuant to Article 8 and the Board of Arbitration shall determine whether or not the total compensation package is comparable and make such orders as may be necessary to ensure that the total compensation is comparable.

21.5 A resident returning from maternity leave, or extended absence due to illness or injury, will advance to the next PGY level as if the resident had not been on leave, unless the resident's program director determines that the resident requires further training at his or her earlier PGY level.