Kevin Bissett, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government is prescribing a two-year wage freeze for the province's doctors in the latest move to cut spending because of the recession.

The province's Liberal government has already imposed the wage freeze on civil servants and members of the legislature, and Health Minister Mike Murphy says he now wants doctors to do their part.

"Mr. Speaker, we are not asking physicians to do anything more than we have asked cabinet ministers, college instructors, tradesmen, custodians or any other civil servant to do," Murphy said in the legislature Tuesday.

The minister said the agreement with fee-for-service physicians expired in March 2008, meaning they've been under a freeze of sorts for 14 months, and he wants that extended an extra 10 months to March 31, 2010.

"It's about securing our province's financial future and ensuring continued accessibility and sustainability of our healthcare system," he said.

Murphy wants the New Brunswick Medical Society to set aside a tentative agreement reached with the physicians in December. The proposed deal was never implemented.

"Lots of tentative agreements have had modifications to them by all governments with the parties with whom they negotiate," Murphy told reporters.

Opposition Leader David Alward was quick to take the government to task, accusing the Liberals of breaking a number of tentative agreements.

"The nursing home workers, the teachers, and now fee-for-service physicians," he said. "What should be very clear to all New Brunswickers is that the word of this government is worth absolutely nothing...their word is no good."

Opposition health critic Margaret-Ann Blaney said the government's decision will hurt efforts to recruit and retain doctors in the province.

"We are not physician friendly," she said. "Now today, conducting negotiations through a ministerial statement, thereby putting physicians on notice that if they don't play ball, look out."

Blaney warns the government is planning legislation to remove the doctors' right to binding arbitration if they don't agree to the freeze.

Murphy would not rule out legislation, when questioned by reporters, but said he's hoping the Medical Society will co-operate after their board of directors meets on Friday.

Despite numerous requests, the Medical Society refused comment on the matter Tuesday.

The minister said for other physicians not covered by the fee-for-service agreement, the Medical Pay Plan could be adjusted to include a two-year wage freeze, but that's not firm yet.

"We're open to discussions (with the Medical Society) on how we can arrive at a common goal of some restraint here so that we can get through this recession," Murphy said.