Updated: Thu Sep. 28 2006 4:40:01 PM

Canadian Press

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Premier Dalton McGuinty wants emergency room doctors to "hang in there'' as the province tries to resolve Ontario's doctor shortage.

McGuinty -- under fire for allowing a private company to manage an emergency room in Cambridge, Ont. -- says the province has to talk to doctors about their pay levels and reluctance to work in hospital ERs.

McGuinty said there is a pay issue for emergency room doctors who earn an average of $170 an hour.

He says the province will work hard to resolve the shortage so other hospitals don't have to resort to the same tactic.

McGuinty says the use of private companies is just a stop-gap measure and a "less-than-ideal'' situation.

He made the remarks after speaking at the Ontario Home Builders' Association annual conference.